DENVER — This next month before the trade deadline could have been very different for Max Muncy.
As he slumped through the first six weeks of the season – batting .190 with a .599 OPS and just one home run in his first 150 plate appearances – Muncy became a favorite target of fan ire and speculation that the Dodgers would be looking to replace him at some point. Nolan Arenado’s name became a frequent companion to Muncy’s – despite the fact that Arenado was enduring his own struggles (which continue).
“When you have as close a relationship as I do with the front office, they’re up front with you and they’ve been up front in the past. ‘Hey, we’re considering going and getting this guy. Would you be willing to do this or that?’ When I know they’re going to talk to me about that, that eases my mind,” Muncy said. “When all that stuff came out, they called me immediately and they told me where they were at with it. I’m not going to say what they said. But if you know where the team is at with these decisions, that kind of gives you a little confidence about where you stand.”
Muncy said his confidence that he would break out of his poor start was always high. The “underlying stuff” in his swing – like bat speed –remained positive even when the results were not. It allowed him to keep in perspective all the speculation that the Dodgers would look to upgrade at his position.
“To me, it is funny because for as long as I’ve been here – even when I’ve had my All-Star years and ’21 when I was getting MVP votes – you hear the noise,” he said. “There’s always someone better. That was when I realized, there’s always going to be someone better. You can’t let that affect you.
“That’s the one thing I’ve learned. It’s not a slight on the fans. The fans want their team to be the best and I love them for that. They want the Dodgers to be the best they can possibly be. There’s always someone better in their mind. That’s okay. I’m still going to go out there and play as hard as I can for this team, the organization, the fans. At the end of the year, you’ll look up there and my numbers are going to be what they are.”
Those numbers have recovered to his career norms thanks to a six-week stretch as hot as the first six weeks were cold, silencing the trade speculation.
Over his past 36 games before Thursday, Muncy hit .321 with 10 home runs, 39 RBIs and a 1.080 OPS. Just since May 31, Muncy has had three games with six or more RBIs, including two with seven, three multi-home run games and two grand slams.
If Muncy’s numbers are going to be there “at the end of the year” so will something else – more uncertainty about his future. After two years and $24 million, Muncy could be a free agent this winter if the Dodgers do not pick up a $10 million club option. It looks like a bargain at this point. But Muncy will be 35 years old before the season ends.
Muncy has been open about wanting to finish his career with the Dodgers. But he said the uncertainty of his future with the team has not weighed on his mind – during the bad start or the good run.
“No. At this point in my career, no. If I was younger, it definitely would be in my head,” he said. “At this point, I’ve accomplished a lot. I’ve been able to do almost all of it in a Dodgers uniform and that’s something that’s very special to me,” he said. “Obviously I’ve made it very clear I want to retire as a Dodger. But that’s not always in your hands. Sometimes you can play as good as you possibly can but it’s just time. When it’s time, it’s time. That’s something as I’ve gotten older that I understand.”
OHTANI DAY
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Thursday that Shohei Ohtani’s next pitching assignment would be Saturday in Kansas City. Roberts still would not say how many innings Ohtani will pitch. He has thrown just one inning in each of his first two starts since returning from his second elbow surgery.
Right-hander Dustin May is scheduled to start Friday’s game against the Royals with Sunday a “TBA,” though left-hander Justin Wrobleski is expected to pitch in bulk again.
ALSO
Right-hander Luis Garcia was activated from the injured list before Thursday’s game and right-hander Will Klein was sent back to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Garcia had a 4.50 ERA in 26 appearances before going on the IL with a groin muscle injury in late May.
UP NEXT
Dodgers (RHP Dustin May, 4-5, 4.46 ERA) at Royals (LHP Noah Cameron, 2-3, 2.08 ERA), Friday, 5:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM