The Dodgers have reached agreement with infielder Nick Senzel on a minor league contract, reports Daniel Álvarez-Montes of El Extrabase. He’ll presumably head to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Senzel makes his return to affiliated ball after a brief stop in Mexico. The former #2 overall pick had signed with the Mexican League’s Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos. It didn’t take long for him to find interest from a big league club. Senzel hit .591 with three homers, four walks, and one strikeout over six games. That attracts attention even in an exceptionally hitter-friendly league.
A veteran of parts of six MLB seasons, Senzel divided last year between a pair of rebuilding clubs. He signed a $2MM deal with the Nationals and was released in July after hitting .209/.303/.359 over 64 games. Senzel briefly caught on with the White Sox, but they moved on after just 10 appearances. He elected free agency in August and had remained unsigned until getting the opportunity in Mexico.
Senzel never panned out as the Reds had expected when they drafted him so highly. He turned in a .239/.302/.369 line through parts of five seasons — much of that spent as Cincinnati’s primary third baseman. He’ll try to get back to the highest level in Los Angeles, where third base has been an issue. Max Muncy is out to a .171/.273/.237 start with 32 strikeouts in 88 plate appearances.
Dude is a former top prospect and is hitting nearly .600 in Mexico. That’ll get you another opportunity in affiliated ball. Will probably hit .350 in OKC and get another chance with LA. They have a history of turning guys around, but Senzel has his own history of getting injured often. Let’s see how this plays out. Definitely worth a gamble…
“Ask a different question”
–Jodie Foster
The key is having someone ready to replace Muncy, if he continues to self destruct. He usually starts slow. Then, he will contribute 30 some home runs, while continuing to hit at or below the Mendoza Line. This year he appears to be lost at the plate. As mentioned, he is hitting .171/.273/.237. His strikeouts are absurd and he has zero homers and four RBIs in 88 at bats. The season is 16% over. I doubt Senzel is the answer at 3b but Muncy is killing the Dodgers.
Muncy is a superior defender and, despite the paltry offense this year, is still offering positive value. Whatever offensive gains a miraculously improved Senzel creates would, in fact, be offset by the diminished team defense. If Max Muncy is either killing your team or the player your team is trying to replace, you’re in great shape haha
No offense, but you’re quite wrong on him offering positive value lol. -0.2 WAR, negative defensive value, 57 wrc+… in literally no way has he been a positive contributor.
Checking baseball-reference.com, and he’s listed this year as having accumulated 0.2 positive WAR.
But say he were -0.2, my point is that he’s not bringing this juggernaut down
All any of that proves is what WAR is good for.
Guy was playing in the Mexican league for a reason, and it wasn’t for free tequila.
We’re referring to Muncy.
Max will be fine, have you forgotten past 35 home run seasons of his and how he always has down times
Muncy is a superior defender??? Must be some other guy I see constantly muffing grounders and making horrendous throws. Muncy has so little range at third that his only option is to play at the edge of the outfield grass in hopes that that gives his tubby a$$ an extra step so he can get to the ball and then make a lame throw. Any soft grounder/swinging bunt is an auto single because he has ZERO skills barehanding and throwing on the run.
ANYTHING Senzel brings is a clear step up from Muncy.
He lost 25 lbs going into last season and played top 5 at his position. It was his best year by far, defensively.
Feel free to sign him when he gets DFA’d….. He had some solid years, those are a distant memory. Far too many K’s, far too many defensive miscues. Has that Rendon, “I cant be bothered” vibe going. Complete rally killer.
He has the exact opposite vibe. Have you watched any interviews with him? Seen him in the clubhouse? He cares so much. You are either a casual, or purposeful in your mischaracterization of him.
Not really concerned with what he says or his manner in the clubhouse. What I care about is a getting the job done, and he hasnt done that since August of last year. He had ONE meaningful hit in the post season, didnt show up at all in the Series. I know those things happen, but this is looking more like a trend than an anomaly. .
So purposeful mischaracterization then, got it
Superior defender, top 5 defense…are you Muncy’s agent?
A superior defender? He has never been that.
Alex Freeland waves hello. (Just to remind fans he could be an answer at third. Or just because he’s polite!)
@chicken interesting- touche re: bref. I’m shocked their WAR calc is positive, considering his abysmal (and clearly) negative offensive contributions, negative (if minimal) baserunning contributions, and (at BEST) well below average defensive contributions. He’s been a very good player throughout his career, on below market deals, but he’s been dreadful so far this season.
I wish him best of luck, perhaps playing for a different organization and with more luck from a health standpoint he’d find more success.
He’s done well in 6 games in Mexico. I get that it’s a better offensive environment so we’ll see how that translates into whether he learnt something new or not.