The Los Angeles Dodgers officially announced the signing of Max Muncy to a three-year contract extension with a club option option for the 2023 season. Muncy’s deal reportedly is worth $26 million, with the option valued at $13 million and includes a $1.5 million buyout.
The contract buys out Muncy’s three arbitration years and if the Dodgers exercise their option, his first year of being eligible for free agency as well. Muncy was one of four arbitration-eligible players the Dodgers failed to come to terms with before the deadline.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman is among the executives who operates under a “file-and-trial” philosophy. An exception to that, however, was thought to be if the team could come to terms on a multi-year contract.
Muncy reportedly filed at $4.675 million and the Dodgers countered with $4 million. Had L.A. gone to an arbitration hearing, their stance was likely to include an argument that Muncy — and Joc Pederson and Chris Taylor — is not an everyday player.
That’s despite Muncy appearing in 141 games last season, good for third-most on the team behind Pederson (149 games) and Cody Bellinger (156). Muncy’s total is all the more impressive considering he missed one month after sustaining a right wrist fracture.
He earned a first career All-Star Game selection and finished his second season with the Dodgers batting .251/.374/.515 with 22 doubles, 35 home runs and 98 RBI. Muncy set career highs in runs (101), doubles, home runs, RBI and walks (90).
Since joining the Dodgers, he ranks among the National League leaders with 176 runs (16th), 177 RBI (tied-15th), 70 home runs (sixth), .545 slugging percentage (seventh) and .927 on-base plus slugging (fifth). The past two seasons have been a remarkable turnaround for the 29-year-old.
He was released by the Oakland Athletics, prompting Muncy to consider a slew of options — including playing overseas or retiring — before signing a Minor League contract with the Dodgers in April 2017.
Even with the success, Muncy is maintaining a prove-it mindset heading into Spring Training.
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