New Angels 3B David Freese, Cardinals GM disagree on 2013 struggles

New Angels third baseman David Freese, acquired from St. Louis for center fielder Peter Bourjos in a four-player trade on Friday, considers Cardinals General Manager John Mozeliak a “great human being” and a close friend who stuck by his side during some rocky times in St. Louis. These included Freese’s 2009 arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol and a major ankle injury in 2010.

But the two did not appear to see eye to eye on the reasons for a sluggish 2013 season in which Freese, who was raised in the St. Louis area, hit .262 with a .340 on-base percentage, .381 slugging percentage, nine homers and 60 runs batted in and was often removed in the late innings for defensive purposes.

Freese also struggled in the postseason, hitting .179 (10 for 56) in the division series, National League Championship Series and World Series, a stark contrast with October 2011, when he hit .444 (20 for 45) with four homers and 16 RBIs to win NLCS and World Series MVP honors during the Cardinals’ run to the title.

He had a solid .293/.372/.467 slash line with 20 homers and 79 RBIs in 2012 but opened 2013 on the disabled list because of a back strain that appeared to linger for much of the first half.

“I don’t believe there was anything physical he was dealing with,” Mozeliak said. “I also think when you look back to 2011, our memory of David gets captured in a four-week period when he was one of the hottest hitters on Earth. So our expectations rose.

“What we wanted to keep seeing and believed we could see, at some point it’s hard to live up to those expectations. David growing up in St. Louis -- this could not have been the easiest place for him to play. Even though he loved being here and loved being a Cardinal, I do think he may be looking forward to a fresh start.”

Freese agreed that a “fresh start” in Anaheim might be good for him, but he did not feel as though he succumbed to the pressures of playing at home.

“I don’t think the frustrating year I had was because of being the hometown kid,” said Freese, a career .286 hitter in four-plus seasons. “It was just some growing pains of being in the big leagues, learning a lot, understanding my strengths and being myself. The last thing I’m worried about is being able to hit.”

A ninth-round pick of the San Diego Padres in 2006, Freese was traded to St. Louis for outfielder Jim Edmonds in December 2007, Mozeliak’s first deal as Cardinals GM.

“To be brought home by Mo in his first deal, it was kind of heaven on earth,” Freese said. “We had some great runs in St. Louis, did some exceptional things, won a World Series. You close a chapter and move on. I don’t see this trade as something I’m frustrated with.

“I’m truly excited about joining the Angels. It’s a great group. They have the desire, the expectation, to win a World Series. If I was going to get traded, I wanted to go to a team like the Angels, a team with the opportunity to go to the postseason and do some damage. I’m pumped.”

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