Max Muncy became the longest-tenured player on the Dodgers roster this winter, with his eight seasons surpassing all others in the wake of Clayton Kershaw’s retirement.
And on the eve of spring training Thursday, the veteran third baseman ensured his time in Los Angeles will continue to last for at least a couple more seasons, agreeing to a one-year, $10 million contract extension with the team that also includes a $10 million club option for 2028.
Muncy, 35, was previously set to become a free agent at the end of this upcoming season, after the Dodgers exercised the $10 million club option in his current deal back at the start of this offseason. But in recent years, the longtime slugger has repeatedly voiced his hopes of staying with the Dodgers through the end of his playing career.
This new deal –– which includes a $7 million salary in 2027, and a $3 million buyout on his 2028 option –– could potentially do just that, taking him through his age-37 season if his option is picked up.
Muncy, of course, was never expected to become a foundational member of the organization when he first arrived in 2017. Back then, the former fifth-round draft pick had been cut loose by the Athletics after a couple brief and unsuccessful stints in the majors. He signed on with the Dodgers on a minor-league contract. And he spent his first year with the club in triple-A, trying to reinvent his game at 26 years old.
But in 2018, he had a breakout campaign, hitting .263 with 35 home runs. In 2019, he became an All-Star with another 35-homer performance. In 2020, he helped the Dodgers end their World Series drought. And in 2021, he earned a top-10 finish in MVP, before missing the playoffs with a gruesome elbow injury suffered in the last game of the regular season.
Ever since then, injuries have been a recurring problem for Muncy, who has particularly struggled with oblique issues over the last several seasons.
However, the left-handed hitter has remained productive when he’s on the field, including a two-month stretch last season when he was among the hottest batters in the sport.
Entering 2026, Muncy is set to be the club’s everyday third baseman, and provide added pop in the bottom half of the lineup.
And now, he knows his Dodgers future will continue beyond this season too, with Thursday’s extension ensuring that Muncy’s tenure with the team will last at least a decade, and possibly even longer.
