The Los Angeles Dodgers had to decide on 2024 contract options for six players by the November 6 deadline. Among them was Max Muncy, whose club option carried a value of $14 million for next season.
Both sides ultimately worked out a two-year, $24 million contract extension that will keep Muncy in L.A. through at least 2025. His deal also includes a $10 million club option for the 2026 season.
Muncy will now earn $2 million less than what he was originally slated to get next year had his 2024 club option been picked up.
During an appearance on MLB Network’s “High Heat,” Muncy explained that he signed a team-friendly contract with the Dodgers due to his desire of not wanting to play anywhere else:
“It’s an organization that several years ago when I first came back, they helped me rediscover my love for baseball, and to me, there’s just a peace of mind of being with an organization like that. And knowing that we have a chance to win every single year and it’s also a place that we’re comfortable. Me and my family are comfortable here. It was really just a no-brainer for us.
“The whole reason that I fell back in love with baseball was just having the chance to win and we were never in it to make the most amount of money, we want to win a lot of World Series. And having the chance with Los Angeles, I felt like that just gives us the best chance possible. So for me, it was it was the most comfortable decision.”
Muncy is coming off a peculiar 2023 season that saw him hit just .212 but slug 36 home runs and drive in 105 RBI, both of which were career highs. He was one of four Dodgers to reach the 30-home run and 100-RBI thresholds, along with Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and J.D. Martinez.
It marked the first time in Dodgers franchise history they had four different players reach those totals in the same season.
Muncy is among the four finalists at third base for the 2023 Silver Slugger Award in the National League. His competition is Nolan Arenado (St. Louis Cardinals), Manny Machado (San Diego Padres) and Austin Riley (Atlanta Braves).
Max Muncy outlier in Dodgers contract option decisions
While the Dodgers locked up Muncy for at least the next two seasons, he was the lone player signed to an extension. The Dodgers did additionally exercise Blake Treinen’s 2024 club option worth $1 million.
Meanwhile, the team declined options on Daniel Hudson, Joe Kelly, Lance Lynn and Alex Reyes. Each player is now a free agent, but they can still re-sign with the Dodgers under different terms.
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