Freed was traded from the Orioles to the Phillies for Grant Jackson, Jim Hutto and Sam Parrilla on December 15, 1970.

He was a top prospect whose chances of dislodging Frank Robinson, Paul Blair, Don Buford or Merv Rettenmund from the Orioles outfield roster were becoming more unlikely.

Both Freed and Gamble were shipped off to the Cleveland Indians for Del Unser and minor league third baseman Terry Wedgewood on December 1, 1972.

Playing for the Denver Bears, he received his second minor league MVP award, this time in the American Association.

At the end of the season, he was once again sent back to the minors, but in December he was rescued by the St. Louis Cardinals, who selected him in the rule 5 draft.

Although he played in only 49 games, Freed became a popular player in St. Louis as he came through with a series of clutch pinch hits, and as the end of the season drew near he was in the rarified air of a batting average over .400.

[7] In Strat-O-Matic baseball, Roger Freed's 1977 card is often used to play "stratball", or to use a player with great stats but a small sample size to improve one's lineup dramatically.

Freed had another disappointing season in 1979, although he did have one memorable moment, hitting a two-out, game-ending grand slam homer in the bottom of the 11th inning to beat the Houston Astros 7–6 on May 1, 1979.