Friday, November 3, 2023
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2023
Thursday, the Los Angeles Dodgers restructured Max Muncy’s contract. He will be under the Dodgers’ control through 2025 with an option for the 2026 season.
Muncy is a classic power hitter with an excellent eye for the strike zone. While he has played for the Dodgers six full seasons, he is tenth on the Dodgers’ all-time home run list. He doesn’t have a high batting average, but he knows how to take walks and understands the importance of walks.
In 2023, Muncy had a .212 batting average with 36 home runs, 105 RBI, and a .808 OPS. He helped to drive in Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. He could be a DH if the Dodgers don’t sign Shohei Ohtani or bring back J.D. Martinez.
The problem with Muncy is defense. He should be playing first base, but the Dodgers have Freeman there. If Freeman is healthy, he will be playing at first.
Muncy can play either second or third base. Since he is a stout man, the Dodgers are frightened Muncy doesn’t have enough lateral movement to be a decent second baseman. Before Major League Baseball banned extreme shifts, the Dodgers sometimes had Muncy play second base, and he performed fine.
The 2021 season was Muncy’s best. While he played Gold Glove-caliber defense at first base, he had a .249 batting average with 36 home runs and 94 RBI. He was an integral part of a successful Dodger team, and if he hadn’t suffered a dislocated elbow and a torn UCL on the last day of the 2021 regular season, the Dodgers might have reached the World Series.
Since the injury, Muncy didn’t have surgery to repair the torn UCL, he isn’t the same player. His bat speed diminished and has led to a lower batting average. However, with his fantastic eye for the strike zone, he still can reach base regularly, creating scoring opportunities and prolonging rallies. More time since Muncy’s injury, he has gained more power.
Since the middle of the 2022 regular season, Muncy has been the Dodgers’ everyday third baseman. Many Dodger fans hope no hitter will hit a ball to Muncy. He seemed nervous while fielding a grounder, so he frequently booted them. His rush throws were not accurate. Muncy’s errors and misplays seldom cost a victory for the Dodgers. Many Dodger fans wish their favorite team would find a better defensive third baseman than Muncy, but a great defensive third baseman is challenging to find.
The restructured deal shows Muncy wants to be a Dodger. He had a club option for the 2024 season for $14 million. Now, he has a $5 million signing bonus. He will make $10 million in 2024, and then he will have $12 million in 2025. The Dodgers have an option for 2026.
Keeping Muncy may indicate a willingness for the Dodgers to trade Michael Busch, their top minor leaguer. Busch might be a great minor league hitter, but he hasn’t proven he can hit major league pitching. In 2023, he made his major league debut and appeared in 26 games. He had a .167 batting average with 2 home runs, 7 RBI, and a .539 OPS. Busch doesn’t have a good defensive position or an ability to change positions and play adequate defense.
There is no secret that the Dodgers need starting pitching. Since small-market teams want young players that they can control for six years, they will want Busch and may give up a super starter for Busch.
Photo Credit: MLB
