February 7th, 2020 at 8:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka While the entire baseball world patiently awaits the news on (hopefully) soon-to-be Dodger Mookie Betts (well, except perhaps for Red Sox fans), Dodger fans got some good news early Thursday afternoon … great news, in fact. This from the Dodgers Twitter account:
In all honesty, this great news is anything but a surprise. Re-signing ‘Mad Max’ (as Max Muncy is affectionately known) was a no-brainer and a foregone conclusion. But what is a surprise is that the contract extension is for three years (with a club option for a fourth year), which is rather unusual for a first-time arbitration-eligible player. Then again, this is Max ‘Go Get It Out of the Ocean’ Muncy we’re talking about here.
(Photo credit – Alanna Rizzo)
The Max Muncy story is one that every kid dreams of but soon became every major leaguer’s nightmare. After making it to The Show with the Oakland A’s in 2015 and appearing in a grand total of 96 games over the 2015 and 2016 seasons, the Midland, TX native and A’s fifth-round draft pick in 2012 out of Baylor University in Waco was abruptly unconditionally released and was completely out of the game in 2017.
But through the wizardry of Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers somehow found Muncy and signed him to a free agent minor league contract on April 28, 2017 and called him up to the Dodgers on April 17, 2018 for the (then) MLB minimum salary of $555,000.
All Muncy did in 2018 was post a slash line of .263/.391/.582/.973 with a team-best 35 home runs and a team second-best 79 RBI (behind only Matt Kemp‘s 85) in the 137 games in which he appeared in a Dodger uniform.
(Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)
In 2019, Muncy slashed .251/.374/.515/.889 with 35 home runs (third-best on the team behind only Cody Bellinger‘s 47 and Joc Pederson‘s 36), with 98 RBI. He also posted a .995 fielding percentage in his 65 games as the Dodgers first baseman, a .973 FPCT in his 70 games at second base, and a .929 FPCT in his 35 games at third base.
All of this led to Thursday’s contract extension, thus avoiding arbitration and to the satisfaction of every Dodger fan on the planet.
The wizardry of Andrew Friedman indeed.
Play Ball!
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Posted in 
I’m sure every Dodger fan is happy to see this happen.
Great Signing.
This is exactly the kind of deal I was hoping the Dodgers would sign with Pederson. Maybe a few million cheaper for Pederson, since he’s a platoon guy and not as versatile in the field. I guess Pederson wouldn’t play ball.
Muncy, .251 BA, .374 OBP, .889 OPS, 35 HR
Pederson, .249 BA, .339 OBP, .876 OPS, 36 HR
I pretty much had Pederson as a trade chip over a year ago. He was never a warm-and-fuzzy guy in the clubhouse but definitely had his moments of greatness.
I must confess that I was never been much of a Joc fan, not ever. That said, I am grateful that his departure spared the Dodgers having to trade Lux, May, Beaty, Gray, Downs or Gonsolin. (BTW, I also see Tony as a trade chip somewhere down the line).
But getting back on point, the Muncy contract extension is HUGE and, in my opinion, an absolute bargain for the Dodger.
Is it Opening Day yet?!
I’m not a huge Pederson fan either. Always hated his over-swinging with top hand flying off the bat. But a similar contract (3 yrs with team option on 4th yr) at around $24M for his age 28 through 30 seasons, with option on age 31 season would probably have made him a much more valuable trade chip if nothing else.
Dodgers just signed Ct3 for 30 and 21 for 13.4 mil.
Meant 20 and 21 sorry
There goes “file and trial” for Friedman. I always thought that was a stupid policy because you will just alienate your player at the hearing, then he will leave when eligible for free agency.
Signing max is king.Its good news to all dodger fans. IM HOPING ANDREW FRIEDMAN can make this mookie betts and david price deal.
Signing max is king.Its good news to all dodger fans.