The Los Angeles Dodgers surprised plenty of fans at the trade deadline, but not by pulling off any dramatic moves.
Instead, the Dodgers stayed relatively quiet despite significant concerns in the back end of the bullpen and at the plate. It seems that after another blockbuster offseason of free-spending moves, the team is banking on their existing stars to return to full strength.
“The Dodgers’ haul amounted to just two big leaguers, a signal that they felt their record spending this past winter would be enough,” per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.
There’s good reason for the Dodgers to hope Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernandez can return to form, while Blake Snell and Tanner Scott recover to full strength. The team also appears to be banking on a healthy and effective return for third base veteran Max Muncy, who has slashed .250/.375/.457 so far this season after a brutal start to the campaign.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 20: Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers watches from the dugout prior to Game Six of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets at Dodger…
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 20: Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers watches from the dugout prior to Game Six of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium on October 20, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
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But even if Muncy returns from the injured list and help power a Dodgers turnaround, this could be his last season with the team. He has a $10 million club option next year and, given the Dodgers’ tendency to go big in the offseason and their deep ties to Japan, one expert believes the team could in a significant replacement in a few months by signing Nippon Professional Baseball’s Munetaka Murakami.
“Murakami has missed most of this season due to an arthroscopic surgery in his throwing elbow, but he mashed 223 home runs from 2019-24 and is still just 25 years old,” Kerry Miller wrote for Bleacher Report. “The expectation remains that he will be posted this winter and will be a traditional free agent, able to immediately sign a major deal (a la Yoshinobu Yamamoto) as opposed to needing to go the Roki Sasaki route.”
If Murakami does become a free agent as expected, any number of Major League Baseball teams will be competing for his services. But given the Dodgers’ success with adding other Japanese stars, like Yamamoto, Sasaki and Shohei Ohtani, they are surely the favorites to bring on the young slugger.
“Prediction: Murakami signs a six-year deal with the Dodgers, becoming the heir apparent to Max Muncy at third base,” Miller added.
Murakami has been ranked as a top pending free agent by MLB Trade Rumors, with the potential to sign a $300 million contract. And with a clear need for a third base option of the future, that type of deal could very well come from the Dodgers soon.
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