Dodgers and Max Muncy agree to three-year deal, avoid arbitration

Ken Rosenthal of the The Athletic is reporting that the Los Angeles Dodgers and infielder Max Muncy have agreed to a three-year deal, avoiding an arbitration hearing that would have occurred this month.

If the base extension were to be exercised, Muncy would earn $38 million over four years.

The breakdown of Muncy’s contract:

According to Jon Heyman, there are also escalators on the option-year salary based on MVP voting results.

Muncy has finished 15th in National League MVP voting each of the last two seasons.

The Dodgers had offered $4 million in arbitration for Muncy in 2020 while the player had countered with $4.675 million.

The Dodgers generally have a “file and trial” policy of not negotiating after arbitration figures are exchanged, but perhaps Andrew Friedman grants exceptions for multi-year deals.

Muncy is entering his age-29 season (turns 30 in August), so the option year is for his age-32 season.

For Los Angeles, Muncy has batted .256/.381/.545/.927, 145 OPS+ with 70 home runs in 1,070 plate appearances over the past two years. The only players with an OPS+ between 140 and 150, inclusive, over the past two year, minimum 1000 PA are:

• Nelson Cruz 150
• Muncy 145
• Anthony Rendon 145
• Cody Bellinger 144
• Juan Soto 140

Los Angeles still has pending arbitration hearings with Chris Taylor and Pedro Baez

Joc Pederson has an arbitration hearing today, but with his trade to the Anaheim Angels in the offing, there is speculation that it is not the Dodgers presenting the case.