Bold headline-worthy update: Max Muncy has signed a new extension with the Dodgers that tightens his future in Los Angeles through the late 2020s, keeping him at the hot corner for at least two more seasons and shaping the team’s long-term plan.
The Dodgers announced on Thursday that they reached a one-year contract extension with third baseman Max Muncy. The deal guarantees him an extra $10 million, distributed as $7 million for 2027 and a $3 million buyout on a $10 million club option for 2028. Muncy is represented by Hub Sports Management.
By looking at MLB Trade Rumors’ Contract Tracker, this marks the fourth extension in six years between Muncy and the Dodgers. His prior negotiations began with a three-year, $26 million contract in 2020 that covered his arbitration years and included a club option that ceded some control over his first free-agent season. In August 2022, the Dodgers locked in another agreement, picking up his 2023 club option early and adding an extra year of control via a club option for 2024. After the 2023 season, the two sides renegotiated to a two-year, $24 million deal with a $10 million club option for 2026, which the team exercised in November.
This latest deal effectively extends Muncy’s tenure with the Dodgers to a full decade. It covers his age-36 season in 2027 and leaves the club with a net $7 million decision for his age-37 campaign. Muncy debuted with the Dodgers in 2018 after being released by Oakland and signing a minor-league contract, making this a rare long-term stay with one organization.
Muncy is widely regarded as one of the Dodgers’ best minor-league discoveries in recent memory. He immediately made an impact in his first Dodgers season, posting a .263/.391/.582 line with 35 home runs. Over eight seasons in L.A., he has been a consistently above-average offensive contributor, with the exception of a down 2020, when his numbers dipped to a 98 wRC+.
In recent years, injuries have limited him. Last season, a bone bruise in the knee and an oblique strain kept him to 100 games, yet he still produced a strong .243/.376/.470 line with 19 homers and a career-best 16.5% walk rate across 388 plate appearances. Over the past four seasons, his average games per year have hovered around 111, but his patient approach at the plate and power remain standout assets.
As of the 145th day of the 2026 season, Muncy will reach 10 years of major-league service, earning 10-and-5 rights that give him final say on potential trades. The new extension effectively locks him in as Dodgers third baseman for the next two years, with Freddie Freeman anchored at first through 2027 and Shohei Ohtani continuing to serve as the designated hitter.
Defensively, Muncy’s value has drawn mixed reviews. Recent metrics show him as above average at third base in the last two seasons by Defensive Runs Saved, while Statcast ratings have labeled him closer to average in 2024 and somewhat below average in 2025. The Dodgers appear comfortable absorbing those defensive tradeoffs to keep his elite on-base ability and power in the lineup, especially against right-handed pitching.
Left-handed hitters tend to be where Muncy has excelled, though his performance against left-handers has dipped in recent years. He remained productive against southpaws in 2024 but struggled in 2023 and 2025, hitting .157/.250/.314 in 80 plate appearances in 2025. For the Dodgers, potential infield depth at third includes veteran Miguel Rojas and switch-hitting top prospect Alex Freeland as possible platoon options.
Bottom line: this extension reinforces the Dodgers’ commitment to Muncy as a core piece of their lineup and a long-term anchor at third base, while inviting discussion about how much defense can be traded for continued batting patience and power. Do you think this will pay off over the next two seasons, or would you have preferred a different approach to Muncy’s role and cost? Share your thoughts in the comments.
