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The Los Angeles Dodgers have been relentless in their pursuit of All-Star talent.
After acquiring the likes of Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Teoscar Hernandez ahead of their latest World Series championship, the Dodgers added Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki and Tanner Scott before this season.
That relentless strategy makes winning much easier. But it must also be a harsh reality for players who fear persistent slumps could lead them to be replaced.
For instance, as Dodgers veteran Max Muncy struggles to produce at the plate, calls have mounted for a blockbuster move to replace him.
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“In the wake of their World Series championship, the Dodgers were speculatively linked as a potential landing spot for former All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado, who the St. Louis Cardinals were actively shopping,” The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya reported. “Arenado, who holds a no-trade clause, has long been believed to want to play in Los Angeles for the Dodgers.”
Adding Arenado would have meant benching or parting ways with Muncy, something that some Dodgers fans were calling for. That speculation hasn’t amounted to anything tangible, but Muncy addressed those calls with a clear stance.
“It’s never easy, but it’s baseball,” Muncy said, per Ardaya. “Especially when you’re on a team like this where they expect to win the World Series. You also understand if there’s any chance that they can improve they’re probably going to take that chance.”
Muncy seems to have an open mind when it comes to the Dodgers’ constant roster upgrades. And as the team pursues a back-to-back championship, that’s sure to come in handy.
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