TODAY: Muncy’s extension includes escalators based on plate appearances, as outlined by FanSided’s Robert Murray. He can earn up to $2.25MM in bonus money in 2026, as once he makes his 401st trip to the plate this season, Muncy will earn $15K for every PA up to his 550th plate appearance. His $7MM salary for 2027 can be boosted by an additional $3.75MM, since Muncy will earn $20K for each of his 401st through 500th plate appearance of the 2026 season, and $35K for each PA from 501-550. This same $3.75MM bonus structure also applies to the 2028 club option, based on his plate appearances in 2027.
FEBRUARY 12: The Dodgers announced Thursday that they’ve agreed to a one-year contract extension with third baseman Max Muncy. He’s now guaranteed an additional $10MM in the form of a $7MM salary in 2027 and a $3MM buyout on a $10MM club option for the 2028 campaign. Muncy is repped by Hub Sports Management.
As can be seen in a quick look at MLBTR’s Contract Tracker, this is the fourth extension of the past six years between the two parties. Muncy signed a three-year. $26MM contract covering his arbitration years back in 2020 and gave up control over his first free-agent season via a club option in that process. In Aug. 2022, he agreed to a new deal that saw his 2023 club option picked up in advance, with the Dodgers tacking on another year of control via a club option for the 2024 season. Following the 2023 campaign, the Dodgers renegotiated a two-year, $24MM deal with a $10MM club option for the 2026 season, which the club exercised back in November.
The new deal now covers Muncy’s age-36 season (2027) and gives the Dodgers a net $7MM decision on his age-37 campaign. With this contract, he’s effectively locked into spending an entire decade with L.A., as he made his Dodgers debut in 2018 after being cut loose by the A’s and signing a minor league deal.
Muncy will go down as one of the best minor league pickups in recent memory. He immediately broke out in Los Angeles, slashing .263/.391/.582 with 35 home runs in his debut Dodger campaign. He’s been a well above-average offensive performer in each of his eight seasons with L.A. so far, save for the 2020 campaign when his .192/.331/.398 slash checked in a bit shy of average overall (98 wRC+).
Injuries have hobbled Muncy in recent seasons, but he’s remained a threat in the batter’s box whenever healthy. He was limited to 100 games last season thanks to a bone bruise in his knee and an oblique strain, but Muncy still delivered a .243/.376/.470 slash with 19 home runs and a massive (career-high) 16.5% walk rate in the 388 plate appearances he was able to take. He’s averaged just 111 games per season over the past four years and regularly hits for a low average, but his impeccable patience and well above-average power continue to make him a productive player.
Muncy will reach 10 years of major league service on the 145th day of the 2026 season. At that point, he’ll gain 10-and-5 rights (10 years of service, the past five with the same team), granting him full veto rights over any potential trade scenario. Today’s extension all but locks him into third base at Dodger Stadium for the next two seasons. Muncy hasn’t been an option at second base in years now, and across the infield Freddie Freeman is signed through the 2027 season. Shohei Ohtani, of course, will continue to take the team’s at-bats at designated hitter.
Muncy’s glovework has always drawn mixed reviews, and that’s been no different in recent seasons. Defensive Runs Saved has pegged him as an above-average third baseman in each of the past two seasons, while Statcast felt he was average in 2024 and a fair bit below average in 2025. The Dodgers, clearly, are comfortable with any defensive concessions they’ll need to make to keep Muncy’s perpetually excellent on-base percentage and plus power in the lineup — at least against right-handed pitching.
While Muncy crushed fellow lefties early in his career, his numbers in left-on-left matchups have gone south recently. He still held his own against southpaws in 2024 but was well below average in 2023 and again in 2025, when he hit just .157/.250/.314 in 80 plate appearances. Platoon options at third base for the Dodgers include veteran Miguel Rojas and switch-hitting top infield prospect Alex Freeland.
And some folks were calling his time with the LA over. Pretty cheap I think for Max tbh.
Was about to say the same thing. Dude has had a very impressive tenure and now also has 3 rings, going on 4.
While others saw this coming. We should expect Freeman to get a similar extension next year.
If he keeps hitting World Series Walk Off Home Runs, then he deserves far more than $10 Million.
actually, he hit like 214 in the postseason was not very good on defense last year, constantly has injuries, all of which because he’s such a beloved player in the organization, gets pretty much ignored. I think it’s a reasonable to assume he will have a massive decline.
When will his decline begin?
He also hit a moonshot against Yeasavage that set up Miggy Ro’s 9th inning heroics, and perfectly started the wheel play against the Phillies in the NLDS. The funny thing for me about fielding metrics is the two types we see used in articles like this rarely agree. One will say + and the other -, and it’s not even consistently that one metric is the bullish one.
What I know is the Dodgers told Muncy to keep staying on the team he needed to focus and improve on his defense at 3B, and the one year extension and previous option being picked up suggests he did what they asked. That’s what matters to me, does the best run team in the sport think Max Muncy is worth keeping around? They’ve answered a resounding yes.
Defensive metrics are a mess. Even with thousands of data point to work with, they are ridiculously unstable and measure more noise than signal. Freddie passes the eye test, year after year — and I doubt anyone playing SS or 3B would rather have anyone else on the other end of their throws.
As for Muncy, he also struggled defensively for a while when he was moved to 2B, but he got the hang of it pretty quickly. He’s now at least adequate at 3B.
I’d watch a video explaining the two metrics, because it’s always baffled me as well. Like I said, it always seems they don’t ever agree on a player. It seems like it’s always A says this guy is good, B says he’s not. And for another player it’ll be A says this guy sucks, while B says he’s good.
I’d really like to hear from someone in the know as to how/why the two main metrics seem to disagree.
Likewise.
…and the different WAR models use these different defensive metrics. WAR is well intended, but it is still an estimated counting stat, based on inconsistent components.
Ain’t gonna study war no more…
fpb
“different WAR models use these different defensive metrics. WAR is well intended, but it is still an estimated counting stat, based on inconsistent components.”
It’s well intended.
It’s also well thought out and implemented.
“I checked to see if there was a significant difference between the WARs based on the two different metrics, mainly because the critiques of DRS put enough doubt in my head that there was a good chance that the DRS portion of WAR had thrown off the sample:
TZR (1996-2002): WINS = .94*(WAR) + 53.37, r= .88; r^2 = .78; p < .001
DRS (2003-2011): WINS = .99*(WAR) + 52.1, r = .94; r^2 = .88; p < .001 The results for both samples are very good, and this shows that a defensive metric that has been so critiqued, like DRS, and is a major aspect of WAR does not render the statistic useless, but instead had a very high correlation and an almost perfect WINS = 52 + 1.0*WAR regression equation that I was looking for.
WAR does a very good job of describing what has happened in a given season;"
tht.fangraphs.com/what-is-war-good-for/
Actually, Max had a positive WAR on defense and improved offensively when he started wearing glasses last season. He had a 3.6 WAR in 388 PA. Hmmm about 1 WAR for every 100 at bats? Also, a ,376 OBP is better than average. He GRINDS at bats. Fouls off pitch after pitch. And walks a bit. His signing was a no brainer. He puts pressure on the opposing pitcher almost every at bat. Max is a credit to the Dodgers. And no, expect him to have a better season. He was batting .188 when he started wearing glasses. on May 2. Ended the season .243. So, no, do not expect a decline for a few years. A great signing.
Next Friday at 11.44 EST 🤣
Mark
“actually, he hit like 214 in the postseason was not very good on defense last year, constantly has injuries, all of which because he’s such a beloved player in the organization, gets pretty much ignored. ”
Yes. I ignore batting average. It’s useless. I actually watch games, so I know a stat that says a single and home run are equal and ignores walks, isn’t telling me anything I need to know.
I don’t ignore his defense. He just hits enough that he’s still a valuable player
Same with missing games. 100 games of Muncy is still better than many 3Bmen
WAR. Good God. y’all. What is it good for?
Nah they’ll pay Freddie better. They need him as much as he wants to stay on the championship team.
No question. He’s been worth 2.9-3.6 wins for 4 straight seasons. That is worth more than double the salary.
He’s definitely underpaid, but he’s clearly happy. I’m a huge proponent of players getting theirs, and in this case Max Muncy seems content with getting underpaid to be on this team.
If he’s happy, who am I to judge? It’s not like he’s not making a pile of cash.
Even with his limits as a player, these deals he keeps taking are such insanely club friendly deals
Year Production Salary
2025 $23 $15
2024 $18 $10
2023 $20 $14
2022 $16 $13
2021 $36 $9
What is the ‘production’ figure you list? Is that what he earned after incentives?
Edit: Nevermind, I’m an idiot
Especially considering the lack of 3b FA options next offseason, he should have tested the market
I guess he figures he makes enough money to keep his current job, rather than chasing a raise.
He always takes incredibly team friendly deals and they always seem to get done on the early side by a year or two.
How long before the first sarcastic “Dodgers are ruining baseball” comment?
The Dodgers are ruining baseball…lol. This is not the deal to argue that point.
Eh, at this point the comment is showing up every time the Dodgers do something or any large deal is announced.
It’s been Max Muncy helping the Dodgers ruin baseball all along.
Max Muncy is ruining baseball buffet’s.
I wouldn’t call SF pitching a ‘buffet’ exactly.
Dodgers are ruining baseball
Very impressive 136 ops+ last season. Could have gotten more money on the free agent market. I respect his decision to stay with the champs.
The Dodgers picked up a team option on him. He wasn’t going to be a FA.
These guys need to stop the insane contracts 😁
For the 2nd best (by mlb ranking last week) 3rd baseman, that’s a hell of a deal.
The comment made during that MLB Top 10 3rd basemen show that Muncy isn’t a 3rd baseman, he just stands there was pretty funny. Accurate too.
Fangraphs: OAA -5. FRV -4. He’s on the MLB list because of his bat.
So you are saying the second best third base in all of baseball is not a good third baseman? Lol
He’s a good hitter. Below average w/the glove. Yeah. That’s what I’m saying. You’re just saying that “The Shredder” has named him “the second best third baseman in all of baseball.” He’s not. He’s a good bat w/a weak glove. Prove to me that he’s the 2nd best glove at 3rd base. Go ahead. Waste your time.
He’s average to above average with the glove.
OAA and FRV frequently lack context and definitely seem to have issues rating performance at Dodger Stadium. Both he and Betts score out much better with DRS. While Muncy isn’t a Ke’Bryan Hayes level wiz, he is a competent defender who provides value. That wheel play and snare in the playoffs should say something.
Real fans remember Scioscia’s and Muncy’s HRs.
His home run in game 7 to cut the Blue Jays lead to 1 was so huge.
And was off a nasty lefty
It was actually off of Yesavage who is a righty. Still a great homer nonetheless.
Good point, though his split is so nasty that he almost is a reverse split guy.
Muncy be making some bank yo
Good on him after getting cut
He could make more money but look who he gets to play with!! He makes a great living and wins championships! What more could he want?
this guy could get paid if he wanted to. his stats support it. but I love the loyalty between Max and the Dodgers. that’s how baseball use to be
His agent is Notboras and he plays for Nottheyankees so it’s good all around.
Good luck cashing those 2027 paychecks
Dang it! No more pennies
What did the dollar collapse again?
Or just Wall Street?
Not another great depression
1994 called and said it wants its
World Series back and also said
“You owe the Expos 100 million USD”
-signed, Bob Nutting
Can’t complain when he’s signing these bargain deals….
Happy for Funky Muncy. The guy is a class act and loves being a Dodger.
Found a little extra money under the couch cushions
I like these win win deals. Yes Muncy has left some mo ey on the table but he’s still incredibly wealthy meanwhile he’s playing and winning where he likes and the fans love him.
Great for Muncy. Now spend some money on a real 3B instead of throwing bazooka money on grossly over-rated oft injured RF.
Sign JUSTIN TURNER at least platoon with Muncy.
Turner can’t play defense anymore. Certainly not at a level better than Muncy.
Turner looked cooked last season.
Muncy’s extension is obviously the icing on the cake for a MLB lockout. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The problem with the Dodgers is that they are top of the prospect rankings, but the prospects can not get on the MLB roster, because they are blocked by players they sign for these mega deals that last years. Then they complain about the prospects want to move on to play for another team, feeling that they have a better chance to be in the majors.
Who is saying any of that?
…say what???
Once again THE DODGERS ARE RUINING BASEBALL!!!!!!!!! And BTW, how much is deferred?
It’s completely and entirely deferred to 2027.
Muncy quite clearly loves living in L.A. and wants to retire a Dodger. He could easily get more money elsewhere.
My guess is that this is also insurance for Freeman retiring after 2027. Muncy has played competently at 1B before and could slide over as a cheap bridge.
Freddie said he wanted to play 2 more years beyond his current contract… That would take him through age 39 and also (probably) get him to the 3000-hit plateau. Hopefully, his ankle issues will stay under control.
I know that, but if the ankle doesnt hold up or he changes his mind, Muncy would be a perfect insurance policy
Good deal. Good story. I like it
As the article stated, he was cut by the A’s and Dodgers gave him a chance and he’s been producing ever since. I like his workman approach, seems humble and willing to do whatever the Dodgers ask.
Compare this to the 3rd baseman the Angels signed a few years back. Any wonder why Dodgers go to playoffs and wear rings while the Angels can’t play even .500 ball. The Dodgers are a well-run organization.
@Raging Hindsight is 20/20. No one could predict or see Rendon was going to fold like a house of cards. The Dodgers ALSO tried to sign Rendon. Remember his “I don’t like the LA lifestyle comment”
The Dodgers lucked out when they pulled Muncie off the scrap heap. I believe the A’s had let him go.
27 career WAR and the dude has made a “mere” 62MM, (72MM next year) – basically the same as Byron Buxton
He’s going to be remembered fondly as a Dodger when his playing days come to an end. His early days with the team live rent-free in my head. I had no idea who he was and really didn’t understand what they saw in him. They kept running him out there for weeks and it wasn’t as if the Dodgers were desperate for players. I didn’t get it.
But I just didn’t know. They knew what they had, and let Muncy find his footing. Glad they did.
With all the excellent players around him, Muncy is the straw that stirs the Dodgers lineup.
Look at the win/loss record last year with him in and out of the lineup. It’s very telling. He’s one of the most important bats in that lineup for various reasons.
And he will be “buried” in 6-7 spot in the lineup most days.
Second clean up man.
He’s literally awful
Bats,
Yes and the team everyone says is ruining baseball wants him on their team.
He’s clearly awful.
I think I’m gonna have to go with the teams opinion on this one. And my own.
Freeman is next. He probably signs his last extension, and will retire a Dodger.
He made a remark about playing through his age 39 season a few weeks ago. That would take him (probably) to the 3000-hit plateau.
Ole blumpski. Cant move, horrendous 2nd baseman. Ok at 3rd. Pulls the heck out of any pitch inside
He was actually reasonably competent at 2B in the one season he played there relatively regularly. Muncy is the kind of player who needs to stick at one position for a while and settle in
He worked at 2B before the shifts were outlawed because range wasn’t an issue. Terrific complementary player who I always hate to see come up in a big spot against “my” team.
This guy can make more money in TWO PLATE APPEARANCES THAN I DO A YEAR! Jealous? Maybe………😒
He makes two plate disappearances every day at the pregame buffet.
Obviously Muncy has hitting skills much better than you have, or I have BTW. So, as always, get better – educate yourself, find and grow new skills, get more experience, become somehow more valuable to someone who is gonna be willing to pay more for your better skills.
Rather than being jealous of others, follow their lead and improve yourself, then you’ll likely be able to earn more in the future. AIM high, then create your own path to achieve that goal. Don’t assume this is where you stay.
Thank you Grasshopper! You are so wise and kind.
Are thousands of people lining up around the block every day to watch you do your job?
No! People are ducking me on the block!
I forgot…….. DODGERS ARE RUINING BASEBALL
Wow. If he can stay on the field those bonus bucks are crazy. Shame the strength of their lineup forces him down the line and costs him some PA.
Should get some time in the 4-5 spot against right handers on Will Smith’s rest days. Might net him an extra 15 or so plate appearances. At $15k each it adds up.
And Stater Bros is saving me $$$$
Weird that eating ice cream makes you thirsty
Peas make me rowdy.
Diabeetus does that.
Wow that’s embarrassing
The Dodgers, clearly, are comfortable with any defensive concessions they’ll need to make to keep Muncy’s perpetually excellent on-base percentage and plus power in the lineup — at least against right-handed pitching.
So many words, sheesh. And bad grammar/punctuation. “Clearly” is ruinous to syntax as written above, and should either start the sentence or come after “are,” as in:
“Clearly, the Dodgers are comfortable with…”
“The Dodgers are clearly comfortable with…”
“But but but, they make minimum wage!!! Why are you complaining?” -some chud defending poorly written articles.
Fast food workers make minimum wage too but that doesn’t give them the right to mess up my cheeseburger.
Well good for him that he might make some extra $$ on the team friendly contract.
As an A’s fan I still remember how we gave up on him because he wasn’t good enough to make our last Place team
With his offense production it’s surprising he’s not making more money. Home town discount for the richest franchise in MLB. Smurfs are an impressive organization.
Chump change for the Dodgers.
There is a really good chance Muncy ends up with 35-38 wins and his entire productive career with the Dodgers. A Hall of Very Good career and a one team man – not only will he make lots of salary, but he’ll have the kind of L.A. credibility to make money locally for years to come. He already is good in the media.