The Los Angeles Dodgers were dealt a blow last week when Max Muncy injured his left knee from the impact of Michael A. Taylor sliding into him while attempting to steal third base.
Muncy was placed on the 10-day injured list with what the Dodgers deemed a left knee bone bruise. An MRI revealed that the 34-year-old did not sustain any structural damage in his left knee.
While the diagnosis was somewhat encouraging, Muncy is expected to be out for around six weeks. A best-case scenario would see the two-time All-Star return before the calendar turns to September.
With Muncy facing a prolonged recovery, some have wondered whether the Dodgers will look to acquire a third baseman before the MLB trade deadline on July 31. However, manager Dave Roberts does not believe that is a strong possibility.
“I don’t think that changes much, with knowing the certainty of Max coming back at some point,” Roberts said of the Dodgers potentially adding a third baseman in the next few weeks.
“I feel that with the options we have, yes Max is a big loss, but I feel like on the defensive side, having Tommy over there, matching up right versus left as far as Hyeseong, and the two right-handers that I mentioned, I think we’ll be covered offensively.
“So I don’t think that really will impact the thinking going into the deadline.”
It isn’t clear which third basemen might be available at the trade deadline, but the Dodgers have been linked to Nolan Arenado in the past. He doesn’t figure to be a realistic option due to his decline in production and hefty contract.
Another potential option could be Ryan McMahon.
For the time being, the Dodgers are going to rely on Tommy Edman, Kiké Hernández and Miguel Rojas at third base. Edman figures to receive most of the starts against right-handed pitching.
Max Muncy encouraged despite knee injury
Muncy initially feared the worst with his knee injury and was encouraged to hear he could return this season.
“It was obviously amazing hearing the news that nothing was torn, nothing was ripped. That was obviously a huge sigh of relief for me,” Muncy said. “But it still sounds like too long of a time in my head.
“You can’t really control that. Like I said, if you go back and look at the play, the injuries that could’ve happened from that, we’re definitely walking away from this very lucky.”
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