Doug Gottlieb Retracts Statement About Close, Freeman

Fox Sports’ Doug Gottlieb has fully retracted his statements about the Casey Close-Freddie Freeman negotiations, ending a months-long feud and, most likely, the defamation lawsuit filed against Gottlieb.

In late June, Gottlieb said on his radio show and on Twitter that Close did not disclose the Atlanta Braves’ final contract offer to Freeman, leading to the All-Star first baseman firing the agent.

Gottlieb is now retracting that statement saying, “Upon further vetting of my sources, a review of the lawsuit filed against me in this matter, and a direct conversation with Casey himself, I have learned that the conduct I alleged did not occur and that there is no credible basis for stating that it did.”

Gottlieb has also deleted the original tweet alleging the wrongdoing.

A motion to dismiss the lawsuit was filed in a New York federal court late Wednesday afternoon.

“From the onset, we were clear that Mr. Gottlieb’s tweet was wholly inaccurate and that we would seek legal remedies to set the record straight,” reads a statement to FOS from Close.
“He has retracted his statement in its entirety and acknowledged that he got the story wrong. We consider this matter closed.”

A statement from Gottlieb’s lawyers also considered the matter closed.