Cody Snavely
Entering the 2023/2024 MLB offseason, the Dodgers had decisions to make on where to take the club heading into the next season.
One of those decisions was whether or not to pick up the $14 million club option for the 2024 season.
Around the league, many predicted that the Dodgers would pick up what was perceived as a team-friendly option. Andrew Freidman agreed and decided to offer Muncy an extension.
In November, before the Dodgers “broke” baseball, they inked Max Muncy to a two-year $24 million extension with another club option for 2026 at $10 million.
Max Muncy resurgence in 2023?
Unlike the 2022 season, Max Muncy entered camp in 2023 fully healthy after recovering from a tear in his ulnar collateral ligament.
Muncy suffered the injury at the end of the 2021 season, which would sideline him for the entire Postseason and disrupt his offseason routine as he rehabbed his elbow.
Fortunately for Muncy, the injury never required surgery, and he could start the season on time in 2022, but it took some time for Max to regain his strength fully.
2022 was a tale of two halves for Muncy as he went through the tribe and tribulations of returning after a significant injury. During the first half of 2022, Muncy’s slash line was a terrible .164/.320/.319. However, in the second half, he improved all those numbers, batting .230/.340/.451, along with an OPS+ of 121.
The 2023 season was a clean slate for Max, who was projected to be the Dodgers primary 3B for this second year in a row due to the arrival of Freddie Freeman.
Muncy showed flashes of his 2019 self, having an all-around good offensive year. However, he has joined the trend of the new typical three-outcome hitter.
Throughout his tenure with the Dodgers, Muncy has always had great discipline at the plate, getting walked often. However, his batting average is less than desired, as Muncy has not hit over .250 since 2019.
However, 2023 was still a career year for Max, who set career highs in HR (36) and RBI (105). It would be his defense if there is room for improvement other than the bat.
In 2023, Muncy had a -3 DRS along with 16 errors, a .944 fielding percentage (league average .986), and a ranking in the 4th percentile in OAA.
New Year, new me: Max Muncy’s transition could lead to a career year
One of the first topics when the Dodgers returned to Arizona for spring training was how Max Muncy visually lost weight. Brandon Gomes and Dave Roberts each showed their excitement.
Hard not to notice the improved physical condition of Max Muncy this spring. Both Dave Roberts and Brandon Gomes gave credit to Muncy for taking on the challenge to improve himself this winter. Gomes added ‘Our hitting guys are raving about him.
via David Vassegh Dodgers Talk
Entering 2024 off the heels of an extension, the Dodgers are expecting yet again for Muncy to be the productive high on-base power hitter in the middle of their order.
As we get closer to the start of the regular season, it is easy to pencil in around 30 HR, 100 RBI, and a likely .220 BA, and his FanGraphs projections agree. For 2024, FanGraphs has Muncy batting .220/.342/.443, along with a 115 wRC+ and 2.2 WAR.
Entering the 2024 season, Max Muncy also ranked as the #8 ranked third baseman above Isaac Paredes and former Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner.
The Dodgers lineup is deep, and having the combination of Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Will Smith in front of you will only help your case getting pitches to hit.
Other options?
Max Muncy will not play all 162 games at third for the Dodgers this year, which means regardless of injury or not, the Dodgers will need to have players ready for the hot corner.
The Dodgers have plenty of internal options to help, such as Kiké Hernández, Chris Taylor, Miguel Vargas, and newly acquired utility infielder Chris Owens.
Dave Roberts stated that Kiké Hernández would get playing time like last season, where he played 12 games in 2023 and 45 times in his career.
DODGERSBEAT GRADE: B-
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