Originally published by DodgerBlue.com
Max Muncy is enjoying an excellent start to the Cactus League season in 2026, fresh off a one-year, $7 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the offseason.
Muncy’s production at the plate has been on the rise since 2024, following down seasons in 2022 and 2023 as he took time to recover from an elbow injury.
Despite being limited to 73 games in 2024 due to a nagging oblique injury, Muncy still managed to show signs of turning things around at the plate. His .852 on-base plus slugging percentage would’ve placed him right behind Freddie Freeman at No. 17 in all of MLB, had he qualified.
He proved it wasn’t a small sample size fluke with another great season last year, batting .243/.376/.470 with a 137 wRC+ in 313 at-bats.
That momentum has carried over into Spring Training, where he has collected six hits in 16 at-bats. He feels very comfortable at the plate after refining his swing in the offseason, according to Doug Padilla of the Southern California News Group:
“My swing feels in a real good spot,” Muncy said. “We worked on some mechanical stuff, and it feels like it’s right there.”
The most important thing for Muncy this season is staying healthy. His presence in the lineup makes the Dodgers exponentially more dangerous, and his absence for extended periods has caused major issues over the past two years.
A couple of his stints on the injured list last year were out of his control, including a collision with Michael Taylor, who was trying to steal third base. However, he was also briefly sidelined by a right oblique strain, the same type of injury that sidelined him for three months in 2024.
That will be something to monitor in 2026, and perhaps the emergence of Santiago Espinal could be a solution. In the same way that the Dodgers managed Will Smith’s workload in 2025, they could take a similar approach with Muncy this season.
The Dodgers have already been giving Espinal extensive looks at third base this spring, as he has logged 26 innings over six appearances at the hot corner.
Max Muncy contract extension details
Muncy could have potentially become a free agent at the end of 2026 prior to his one-year extension this offseason.
His new deal includes a $10 million club option for 2028 and a $3 million buyout. He became the franchise’s longest-tenured player when Clayton Kershaw retired during the offseason.
The deal also contains incentives based on his number of plate appearances over the next two seasons.
