Agent Casey Close sues Fox Sports radio host Doug Gottlieb for libel over tweet about contract offer to Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman

Agent Casey Close sued Fox Sports radio host Doug Gottlieb for libel Thursday, alleging that Gottlieb «falsely and recklessly» defamed Close and Excel Sports Management in a tweet that claimed they had not presented a contract offer to star first basemen Freddie Freeman during free agency, according to a complaint filed in a New York court.

The lawsuit details Close's negotiations with the Atlanta Braves, the team with which Freeman had spent his career before signing a six-year, $162 million free agent contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in March. On June 29, Gottlieb tweeted: «Casey Close never told Freddie Freeman about the Braves (sic) final offer, that is why Freeman fired him» — an allegation the complaint says is false and has prompted death threats toward Close and tens of millions of dollars in damages to Close and Excel.

In a statement, Close said: «Although we gave Mr. Gottlieb an opportunity to retract his false statement, he failed to do so. The Complaint sets the record straight as to what occurred during the negotiations with the Atlanta Braves.»

Gottlieb and his lawyer, John Tehranian, did not return messages from ESPN seeking comment.

On March 29, according to the complaint, Atlanta offered a five-year, $110 million contract to Freeman, the five-time All-Star who had spent 15 years in the Braves' organization. Freeman rejected that offer as well as an Aug. 1 offer of five years and $125 million and a five-year, $135 million extension Aug. 4, according to the complaint.

Freeman reached free agency after helping lead the Braves to a World Series title. Their final discussions on a potential deal took place March 12, according to the complaint, when Close proposed two potential offers — previously