The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Max Muncy to a one-year, $13.5 million contract extension, with the deal including a $10 million (plus incentives) team option for 2024. This marks a second time the Dodgers have signed Muncy to a contract extension, as he previously inked a three-year pact in February 2020.
That deal included a $13 million club option (or $1.5 million buyout) for 2023, which now is guaranteed. The 31-year-old is on the rebound after struggling through the first half of this season.
That was largely traced to Muncy still recovering from a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow that compromised his swing mechanics. Muncy and Dodgers hitting coaches continued to work on finding a solution before discovering taking a step back as a pitch is being delivered proved to be the answer.
Throughout his struggles, manager Dave Roberts kept Muncy in the Dodgers lineup and continued to express confidence he would begin to meet expectations and production from prior years.
Entering play Monday, Muncy is batting .190/.326/.386 with 15 doubles, 16 home runs and 47 RBI over 99 gams this season. However, he’s batting .328/.409/.776 with 15 RBI in August, and leads the Majors with seven home runs this month.
The two-time All-Star is among only three players in Dodgers franchise history with three seasons of at least 35 home runs. The feat was also accomplished by Duke Snider (five years) and Mike Piazza (three). Muncy produced back-to-back seasons with 35 home runs in 2018 and 2019, and set a career high with 36 in 2021.
Max Muncy latest to sign contract extension with Dodgers
In May, the Dodgers signed Blake Treinen to a one-year, $8 million contract extension for the 2023 season. At the time, Treinen had a $8 million team option or $1.5 million buyout on his deal for next year.
Then in July, the Dodgers signed Austin Barnes to a two-year, $14 million contract extension that runs through 2024. Barnes’ deal also includes incentives. He was scheduled to become a free agent this winter.
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