Max Muncy leaves money on the table to stay with the Dodgers

As if they weren't powerful enough, the Los Angeles Dodgers improved their lineup during the current offseason by signing record-breaking contracts with Edwin Diaz and Kyle Tucker, among others.

Then, this week, the California team shifted its focus to pieces of last year's puzzle, starting with the return of Evan Phillips, who was released last November. The Dodgers then brought Kiké Hernandez back into the fold before signing Max Muncy to an extension that could keep him in Los Angeles until 2028.

For Muncy, his goal has always been to stay with the Dodgers for the rest of his career. That's why he bypassed arbitration to sign a three-year, $26 million contract in 2020 and twice accepted club-friendly contract extensions rather than testing the free-agent market.

And that's also why, after the team exercised the club option in his contract this winter to bring him back in 2026, he expressed his interest to management in signing another extension, which ultimately resulted in a $10 million deal this week through at least 2027.

Dodgers' Max Muncy was OK ‘leaving some money on the table' to stay in LA https://t.co/SayvHlAecp pic.twitter.com/qtUG5os4G6

— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) February 14, 2026

All that matters to the man himself is staying under the warm California sun, even though he could have gone elsewhere for more money.

I know I'm leaving money on the table, but that's okay with me because I wouldn't feel comfortable chasing money elsewhere while watching this team win without me. That's just not who I am. I'd rather win.

His values are also part of the equation.

It's part of who I am as a person and how I was raised. I like to be loyal to people. This organization took a chance on me when I was out of baseball. That meant a lot to me. They stuck with me when things were going badly. They never let me down. That means a lot to me in itself, and it's just a place where I feel very comfortable.”

And let's just say that the possibility of winning several more World Series rings before retiring must also weigh in the balance.

Created by humans, assisted by AI.