Dodgers GM Gomes: Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman Falling Far Short of Team’s Expectations and Performance Standards
The Los Angeles Dodgers are facing growing concern in the wake of the disappointing mid‑season slump of their marquee veterans. Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes recently publicly acknowledged that two of the franchise’s cornerstone players—Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman—have been “falling short of what our expectations are.” With both stars struggling at the plate, Gomes expressed confidence they will recover, but emphasized their current production is simply not living up to the high bar set by the club .
Both Betts and Freeman have earned their place among the elite in Major League Baseball. Betts, an eight‑time All‑Star, 2018 AL MVP, and multiple World Series champion, continues to anchor the Dodgers’ defense, now at shortstop permanently since 2025 . Freeman, a nine‑time All‑Star, 2020 NL MVP, and 2024 World Series MVP, remains one of the game’s premier hitters with a career batting average around .300 and over 350 home runs Wikipedia.
Yet, this season has deviated sharply from their proven consistency. Betts suffered through his worst offensive season ever, grappling with a lingering illness before the season and persistent timing issues—batting around .268 with an OPS near .752, both career lows . His recent 17‑game stretch saw a .191 average, the product of diminished power and poor launch metrics, with exit velocity and hard‑hit rates well below his norms .
Freeman, once leading the National League with a .374 average in late May, has since plummeted into a steep decline. Over a 20‑game stretch he slashed just .160—by far the worst span of his career. Managers have noted his grind to rediscover timing and bat path, using repetitive drills with as many as 16 repetitions of swing cues each day . Though he entered July at a .224 average, Gomes stressed that Freeman remains capable of snapping out if consistency returns .
Their paired failure to perform at critical junctures was starkly evident in the Dodgers’ postseason exit in the NLDS. Betts and Freeman combined for a ghastly 1‑for‑21 across the three‑game sweep by the Diamondbacks—a collapse that proved pivotal in the Dodgers’ elimination. Betts went 0‑for‑11; Freeman managed the only lone infield hit in Game 2. Manager Dave Roberts, visibly frustrated, admitted he “really doesn’t have an answer” for how two of the game’s best could fall so flat at the worst possible time .
This mid‑season downturn has aligned with the broader struggles of a team once seen as a lock to repeat. Despite a high payroll (over $400 million) and a talented roster featuring additions like Michael Conforto and Roki Sasaki, the club has faced offensive weakness from key contributors—including neither Betts nor Conforto living up to expectations—and a bullpen overtaxed by injuries and underperformance .
While Gomes’ public critique was pointed, he coupled it with optimism. He suggested that the return of Max Muncy and other recovering players could alleviate pressure and help Betts and Freeman rediscover their form. Gomes reiterated his belief in their talent: “Future Hall of Famers … that haven’t been performing up to what our expectations are. I feel strongly those guys will get it back on track,” he assured reporters .
For both Betts and Freeman, the road ahead requires more than raw talent—it calls for resilience under scrutiny. As the Dodgers navigate the second half of the 2025 season and gear up for the trade deadline, the veteran duo must elevate their output not only to justify their lofty contracts and status but to support a team still chasing playoff dominance.
Brandon Gomes has laid the cards on the table. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman have fallen short—not necessarily in character, but in results. Whether they can reverse course and restore their elite offensive presence could well determine the trajectory of the Dodgers’ title defense.
