The Dodgers and infielder Max Muncy have agreed to a contract extension, according to an announcement from the team. Under the previous extension he signed with the Dodgers, they had a $13MM club option for his services in 2023. That will now become guaranteed at $13.5MM, with the Dodgers now holding a $10MM club option for 2024, plus incentives. Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports that there’s no buyout on the 2024 option.
Fabian Ardaya of the Athletic (Twitter link) provides a breakdown of the escalators on Muncy’s option, which are based on his plate appearance tally in 2023. The option price would increase by $250K apiece for reaching 50, 250, 300 and 350 plate appearances next season, followed by an additional $500K at 400 and 450 plate appearances and an extra $1MM at each of 500 and 550 PA.
This extension is a bit of an early birthday present for Muncy, as he will turn 32 years old on Thursday. The lefty slugger was a late bloomer by major league baseball standards, having his breakout season in 2018 at the age of 27. That year, he hit 35 home runs and slashed .263/.391/.582 for a wRC+ of 162, indicating his offense was 62% better than league average. In 2019, he proved that it was no fluke, hitting 35 homers again and slashing .251/.374/.515 for a wRC+ of 133. He also provided defensive versatility in that time, moving between first, second and third base.
After those two strong seasons, Muncy finally reached arbitration for the first time in his career, at the age of 29. He and the club didn’t come to an agreement, with the club filing for $4MM while Muncy’s camp submitted a $4.675MM figure. Before the hearing took place, the two sides agreed to a longer-term pact, running through 2022 with the option for 2023. Since Muncy was on pace to reach free agency after 2022, that extension effectively relinquished one year of free agency while allowing him to guarantee himself $26MM in future earnings, and potentially more.
Muncy slumped a bit during the shortened 2020 campaign but was excellent in the postseason, helping the Dodgers win their first World Series title since 1988. Last year, he got back to the pace he established in 2018 and 2019, as he hit 36 home runs and produced a batting line of .249/.368/.527, wRC+ of 140. Unfortunately, he injured his arm in a collision at the end of the season, an injury which prohibited him from participating in last year’s postseason.
That injury has seemingly lingered into 2022, as Muncy spent time on the injured list due to left elbow inflammation and struggled over the early parts of the season. However, the good version of Muncy has been roaring back recently. Through the end of July, he was hitting .161/.310/.303 for a wRC+ of 82. Since the calendar flipped to August, though, he’s hit seven home runs and slashed .328/.409/.776, increasing his wRC+ for the season to 105.
That August line is still a small sample of just 66 plate appearances, but the Dodgers evidently have enough faith in Muncy that they are willing to re-up with him for one more year. If that show of faith pays off, they will be rewarded by having the ability to keep Muncy around for yet another season. It also helps reduce a bit of uncertainty in the club’s infield picture. The Dodgers held club options over both Muncy and Justin Turner, while Trea Turner is slated to become a free agent in a few months’ time. While it was possible to envision a scenario where all three ended up in new uniforms next year, now the club knows that it at least can count on Muncy to take a spot somewhere on the diamond. There’s also uncertainty in the outfield, with Joey Gallo heading into free agency and Cody Bellinger a potential non-tender candidate. With players like Muncy, Chris Taylor, Gavin Lux and others bringing that multi-positional skillset, they’re in a good position to navigate their options in the offseason.
For Muncy’s part, he can finish the season and go into the playoffs with the peace of mind of having his 2023 salary locked in with a slight raise. The details of the incentives aren’t yet known, but that potentially provides him a chance to secure some more earnings as well.
Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic was among those to report the extension before the official announcement.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Very smart move
Lol. After he is hitting below .200 for the 3rd season of his career
So, as a SD fan this should make you happy… Unless, of course Muncy’s numbers against the Padres are decent… which they are.
Good move by Dodgers
Prior to this season (and Freeman), Muncy in my opinion, was the scariest guy in the lineup. His numbers are never eye-popping, but it seems he always kills the Braves. Then again, so did Bellinger and Seager.
He sends Giants fans under the bed when he’s in the on deck circle
Under the bed to search for actual World Series rings…
That was pretty good Dlew gotta admit !
How many World Series rings do fans have under the bed?
it depends on how much money they have. weird flex though to spend money on a world series ring and stuffing it under your bed though
Turner scares me the most. That dude can beat you multiple ways.
Perhaps now he’ll have that surgery he needs this offseason
He does? Do tell…
I’m referring to the torn ligament in his elbow from the dislocation he suffered last year at the end of the season – there’s no way he doesn’t need surgery considering the way his numbers have dropped off the cliff this year. I’ll bet the extension comes with a requirement for some sort of treatment or surgery.
Thanks for the internet diagnosis, doc.
You’re welcome, anytime
Well you asked him…lol
there’s no way he doesn’t need surgery considering the way his numbers have dropped off the cliff this year
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He has a .839 OPS since 6/23, despite only a .253 BABIP. So that’s about two full months of pretty good hitting.
If my cat needs surgery I’ll be sure to look for a real veterinarian.
Can you imagine a team in the 80s or 90s extending a guy hitting .190? Lol… times have changed.
Perhaps now he’ll swing at a first pitch strike right down the middle?
Probably not– he’s an OBP guy; he’s always had one of the higher walk rates in the league.
For 13.5 million. Easily worth the price-tag of a guy that had 3 years in a row of 30+ HRs.. And if he can find his way back next year, 10 million option is also an easy call.
After the season he’s had, I expected this to be a $7-$8M deal. Looks like Muncy got hot at the right time!
Laughing
Pointing and staring.
If his OBP, OPS , OPS+ and SLG don’t rebound big time next year then L.A needs to decline that option. I’m all for the new analytical approach and all that but you can only have so many guys striking out all the time and the Dodgers have more than enough of those kinds of hitters. And then they added Gallo to the K mix.
The shift might change a lot next year.
The shift change will not keep Gallo from striking out.
Gallo has vastly improved since becoming a Dodger. He also has a beard now.
Congrats on the contract, but there’s something about the way this guy carries himself that makes him impossible to root for. Bit of a diva as well.
and you’re basing this on what, exactly?
Perennial whiner, the weird Bumgarner thing that still makes no logical sense, the way he looks at the ground every time he bobbles a ball as if it wasn’t his mistake, pretending to be hurt vs the Yankees etc…Diva behavior.
Nah, even as a lifelong Giants fan, the MadBum situation was more MadBum’s trademark sore losing when giving up a homerun, then whining when the player shows any sort of emotion towards his hit than it was anything that Muncy did.
You are clueless.
@Neon – You are clueless.
I’m not objecting to Muncy celebrating, but his comment to Bumgarner made no sense. Something about “if you don’t want me to look at the ball, get it out of the ocean”. Like why would MadBum get the ball if he doesn’t want him to look at it…makes no sense…
Good one, Hunter. Did you need to respond twice? Regardless, I gave a long list of examples and this is all you got…
it means pitch better or stfu about the results
are you the only person who cannot grasp that, Neon?
Despite what fangirls like you think, the comment made no sense. Guy has zero swag & can’t even gloat in a cool way. Why are you always in my mentions? Somebody’s got a crush…
OMG…Neon again…”Why’s it always happening when you’re here?” We should call you the Angel Hernandez of MBLTR bad posts.
To address your less than stellar comments. 1. The beef between Bum and Muncy and you choose to side with Bum, the ultra diva of baseball who gets mad at players who get mad at themselves. Who demands players sprint after hitter a homer off of him. Muncy only got upset after Bum got butt-hurt and started cursing him out. Speaking of butt-hurt go to YouTube and watch the dozens of videos of Bum getting butt-hurt and getting upset at opposing players while you try to get a clue.
Perhaps he looks at the ground because he’s upset at himself and feels like he should have made the play. I honestly don’t see any diva qualities from Muncy. He works hard and even in times of success he’s not gloating. Experiencing disappointment early in his career I’m sure grounds him and keeps him humble. Even more so in his early season struggles. If anything, I was worried that he was getting too down on himself and losing confidence. Glad that he snapped out of it.
Faking injuries? C’mon man, you’re getting desperate. He’s only coming back from a major injury and you’re accusing him of faking injuries?
Wow that’s a ton of writing to say so little. Not a MadBum fan at all. Just pointing out how silly it is that Dodger fandom rallied around a quote that makes no sense.
Here’s the example of Muncy faking injury to deke the umps a couple years back. Nothing to do with his elbow…
nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-max-mun…
Simply keep scrolling if you don’t like the posts. This is a public site…
I pretty much only reply to dumb comments with little to no logic at this point. So if I’m replying to you… well you can put it together
Not faking the elbow; he faked an injury vs the Yankees to deke the umps. Reading is hard, I know.
“with little to no logic” = agreed, this is exactly what your replies contain. check your syntax, genius. muted!
@Neon – Yeah, but every one of your long list of examples are completely baseless and nonsensical.
Come up with something with substance and truth and I’ll give you more than that. Until then, clueless is the best descriptor for you.
When someone directly below points out you are the one with no logic in your comments, debunking your comment before I even see it. You’re too much neon
You also failed to mute me, because I can reply to you. Guess you were just looking for more attention. Oops, you probably thought I wouldn’t say anything
Just remembered more Muncy diva behavior: complaining about the *fan mail* he received. Imagine being someone like him & whining about this…
How is that being a diva? If anything, he was smart to make a heads up play. Ever watch soccer? Gardner slid into Muncy and Muncy sold the call. Get over it.
That’s an insanely good deal for the Dodgers to get him under control for two more seasons
1
It’s two. It guarantees the 13.5 million for next year (2023) and a 10 million club option for 2024.
13.5 was already there
They added 1 year today (2024)
I guess I count the guarantee of next year being part of it. Only because so many thought it wouldn’t be exercised. I never thought it would be in doubt but it was certainly talked about.
24 a club option as well tho, but yea I see your line of thinking-
This is very very almost identical to what they just did with Blake Trienan
Im a big fan of these in -season deals and how the front office communicates with players throughout their tenure here
Feels almost like a “don’t let the rumors come into your head” timing. I have to imagine Muncy was pleased to lock in a raise for next year and ease any financial concerns
I found it extremely odd but 2 times by 2 different authors in these mlbtr chats they thought his option would be declined next year. I won’t name the authors out of respect
Granted he was in a huge struggle then, but still a really bad answer I questioned at the time thinking they wouldn’t pick up the 1/13
If he were on 25 or so other teams it wouldn’t have been a question.
He’s playing for less than a QA
Yeah. This is where everyone who said no way is his option picked up admits their error. At least that’s what my fairy godmother says.
Blueskies I prefer Monty Python’s lumberjack song to fully capture this moment in mlbtr comment history
Hah.
If he didn’t snap out of his year long streak I could see the Dodgers potentially not picking it up. Or at the very least thinking about it. But even then it would have been odd because you know some other team would easily give him a chance at the same amount of money. He’s been too elite the seasons before this season for him not to earn a chance. That said, I do worry about Bellinger. The glove is still very good and he has sporadic big hits but he’s struggled with the bat for so long now. Wondering how long the leash is now.
Friedman is the GOAT, 10 million for a 25-30 homerun hitter with ok defense? Perfect
AA ain’t chopped liver.
“World Series title”
No quotation marks needed. They earned it.
Uh huh.
How’d your team do in 2020? Couldn’t even win in a shortened season. Losers!
Don’t think they will do the same with Cody.
Boras client. He’s testing FA.
Testing free agency? He’s still in arbitration and the Dodgers will probably decline his contract to make him a free agent.
ARB4 then its See ya later….unless he turns his .200 hitting around
But he will cost to much in arb4 and Dodgers will let him go.
Ha. Some people never tire of being wrong.
It’s not a secret. 17 mil a year for three horrible years.
Who’s wrong? About what?
Why it seems like only yesterday when we were hearing about how Muncy’s option was never going to be picked up. Probably because it was only yesterday. So now we’re hearing equally insightful predictions for Bellinger.
Who here had a conversation about muncys contract yesterday? I think you are making stuff up.
Day before yesterday. Happy now?
Trumpspeak. Bellinger should be non tendered come December. He has never been the same since he hurt his shoulder.
I would agree. I would not be surprised if the Dodgers either A) trade Cody in the offseason, or B) non-tender him altogether.
If he makes it to free agency with the Dodgers, he is as good as gone. This Dodger FO has yet to sign a Scott Boras client to a free agency contract.
Surprising, as they have Busch readying himself in AAA – similar type players – I guess they want to know for sure Busch can hack it in MLB – soon will find out in September
Current Dodgers FO almost always want to give a player an extra year of seasoning than throw him right onto the flames
Now in the past the flames were not bad, ton of ROY ect ect but new management just prefers to have vets in the role if they can swing it so
Datashark. That’s true. They will also have Vargas and Edwin Rios in the mix as well. I guess it will all come down to whether or not they re-sign Trea.
Perfect Dodgers move. He’s locked in next year at a cost that won’t really hurt them if he continues to struggle but will look very reasonable if he rebounds.
Stay hot, Billy Beane. You had him. You’re a loser
Just don’t do the same to Bellinger
The 37percenters got money to burn. They don’t care.
just curious, if LA has money to burn, what do you call the Giants circa 2017-2020? Asking for a friend
Really don’t understand picking up Muncy. The Dodgers need to give its younger players a chance. Muncy isn’t going to get better. We already have Cody, JT and Taylor underperforming for a while now
Dodgers: Chillax it’s Max?
I agree too maintain in this league need get younger and not play people for what they were 2 years ago. Not a good average hitting not massive home run totals you be better off seeing what youngsters can don
Average? Even with his struggles this season and 2020 in a small sample size you’re talking about a hitter with a career 0.859 OPS as a Dodger. Prior to this season he posted an OPS of 0.895, 0.889 and 0.973 in three of the previous four seasons. Now do you understand why he gets a long leash. Guy has proven he can slug and get on base. Average is meaningless in today’s stat world.
Average is calculated in every offensive sabremetric stat. How is it meaningless? It might be not the end all be all but no stat is.
The Dodgers understand that OPS is a valuable stat and batting average not so much. In the last 8 seasons, the Dodgers have an average OPS rank of 6th in MLB, compared to a pedestrian 14th in batting average. That is why they take guys like Muncy any day of the week. They mash and they get on base. They could care less that he’s a career 0.236 hitter as a Dodger.
Context was being down on Muncy for not having a good batting average. Most people would not know this but Muncy has already surpassed Chris Taylor in OPS (0.716 vs. 0.709) for 2022 despite Taylor outhitting Muncy in batting average (0.226 vs. 0.192). Batting average is the old way of looking at baseball and not relevant.
Chris Taylor shouldn’t be the standard since Taylor has been striking out more than he hits or get on base. Muncy batting .160 for majority of the season while allowing to batting cleanup or middle of the order is problematic not only on the regular season but post season as well. Just like Bellinger who barely get hits and have similar OPS to Muncy. its the reason the dodgers only have won 1 WS. they are keeping players that ar declining out of nostalgia than productivity
Missing the point. Taylor has struggled of late but has been hitting with a much higher batting average than Muncy all season. And now Muncy has surpassed him in OPS. The good thing about Muncy is that even in his struggles he was taking his walks. You’re living too much in the present. Muncy has been an elite producer. Bellinger type of fades are less common and should not always be expected. You’re probably one of those guys that think guys like Vargas and Outman should play over Muncy.
Bottom line is that the Dodgers did a good job in securing Muncy for an additional season. I’d bank on a Muncy bounce back season over any of the young guys.
He already is playing better. Do you think an organization that is stacked in their minors is going to sign a guy who is washed up. They know what they are doing.
Youngsters need to prove they can meaningfully contribute. Muncy was not just a starter he was putting up big numbers. He deserves more time. Why would you give the keys to guys like Outman, Vargas and Busch who have not proven anything yet. Lux is starting to show something. Rios looks like he can contribute off the bench.
Justin Turner has not been underperforming of late, he’s literally one of the hottest hitters in baseball the last month and a half. His last 39 games? .321/.396/.486 for an .882 OPS.
On purpose?
Max moolah for Max Muncy = no more Mad Max.
They can’t keep getting away with this
The Max Muncy the Oakland A’s drafted this year is the Max Muncy you should be paying attention to.
The is not the Max Muncy you are looking for.
What’s next? A Gallo extension?
If he keeps up his numbers with the Dodgers, who knows. He’s sitting on a 1.038 OPS.
I suggest a ten year deal for him. The Dodgers can afford it and don’t want him hitting the open market.
Smart deal the way it’s structured.