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Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy is approaching a crossroads.
Muncy turned 35 on Monday, an age beyond which few succeed at the hot corner on defense. But the Dodgers also have Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani locked in at first base and designated hitter, so Muncy has to be able to continue to play third as long as he wants to remain a Dodger.
That’s especially relevant heading into the offseason, as Muncy has a $10 million club option for next year. Have the Dodgers already made up their minds as to whether that option will be picked up?
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According to one baseball insider, the winds are certainly blowing toward a reunion.
On Tuesday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com strongly suggested that Muncy would be back in Los Angeles next year, based on his excellent offensive season even after a sluggish start.
“Knee and oblique injuries have limited Muncy to 89 games this season, but the third baseman has been superb since starting the season with a poor April, hitting 17 home runs with 64 RBIs and an .880 OPS,” Feinsand wrote.
“Muncy has said he wants to retire as a Dodger, and while that’s still far from a certainty, it seems likely that he will be back in 2026.”
Muncy’s oblique injury is the one that’s currently holding him out of action, as he hasn’t appeared in a game since Aug. 12. Health has to be a concern at this stage in the two-time All-Star’s career, but the Dodgers do have a lot of infield depth that can help spell his potential absences.
A healthy Max Muncy in the middle of the Dodgers lineup still changes the dynamic of the National League. That should continue to be the case for at least one more full season.
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