The Dodgers aren’t ready to give up on Max Muncy despite his early-season struggles at the plate.
Even after assembling a star-studded roster that won the 2024 World Series and adding Blake Snell, Tanner Scott, and Michael Conforto this offseason, there’s one blockbuster move the Dodgers apparently won’t make: trading for Nolan Arenado.
Muncy, the team’s primary third baseman, is hitting just .184/.314/.286 with 37 strikeouts against only 18 hits this season. That’s a far cry from the production Los Angeles expects from the 10-year veteran.
The slump has gotten so bad that Muncy’s trying anything to break out of it. He’s started wearing glasses at the plate despite having “excellent vision,” according to the Los Angeles Times.
“If there’s anything that can help out a little bit, I’ll try it,” Muncy admitted.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals continue shopping Arenado, their All-Star third baseman. It seems like a perfect match on paper — a struggling Dodgers infielder and a proven star potentially available. But that connection isn’t happening, at least not yet.
“(The Cardinals) still are trying to trade All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado,” according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. “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. With Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman carrying the offensive load, they don’t need to panic about one underperforming bat. But if Muncy’s issues persist as the trade deadline approaches, their stance on Arenado might change.
For now, it seems the defending champs are betting on Muncy finding his swing again — glasses and all.
