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6 hours ago
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There seems to be very little the Los Angeles Dodgers won’t do to secure a back-to-back World Series title.
Even after assembling one of the most star-studded rosters in Major League Baseball history and then winning it all in 2024, the team went all in on free agent additions like Blake Snell, Tanner Scott and Michael Conforto ahead of this season.
But as a key infield veteran continues to struggle, it seems like there is at least one blockbuster move that the Dodgers won’t make.
Ten-year MLB veteran Max Muncy has served as the Dodgers primary third baseman this season but without much success, slashing just .184/.314/.286 with 37 strikeouts and 18 hits so far this season. That lack of production has driven trade rumors, with the St. Louis Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado as the most accomplished and compelling third base replacement on the block.
Those rumors are likely to grow even louder as Muncy made a stark admission about just how much he's struggling to break out of his offensive slump. Muncy has started wearing glasses at the plate, despite having "excellent vision," in an effort to try virtually any fix
"If there's anything that can help out a little bit, I'll try it," Muncy admitted, according to the Los Angeles Times.
But even with the Cardinals still looking to deal Arenado away as Muncy’s struggles endure, the Dodgers have no interest in making that move, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
“(The Cardinals) still are trying to trade All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado,” Nightengale reported on Sunday. “The Los Angeles Dodgers have yet to express interest while still hoping that third baseman Max Muncy escapes his early-season struggles.”
The Dodgers can afford some patience as superstars like Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman carry the batting order. But with Muncy’s offensive issues enduring through the first 30-plus games and the midseason trade deadline rapidly approaching, that could change in the near future.
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Peter Chawaga is a veteran journalist covering Major League Baseball for The Sporting News. His MLB reporting has included feature interviews with commissioner Rob Manfred and Hall of Fame slugger David Ortiz, salary analysis, player rankings and more. He has covered baseball for Forbes, Yardbarker, Pitcher List, Athlon and other outlets.
With over ten years of newsroom experience, he has previously covered finance, technology, arts, and culture for newspapers, magazines, and websites nationwide. He graduated from Wake Forest University with a degree in English and journalism.
English (US)