Los Angeles Dodgers: Trading Max Muncy would be a mistake
By Jason Reed
One of the surprise moves that people think the Los Angeles Dodgers will make is trading 2018 standout Max Muncy, which would be a mistake.
Every offseason, the Los Angeles Dodgers make moves that surprise everyone in the baseball world. Last winter, it was the addition of Matt Kemp that nobody saw coming, which actually played a huge part in the Dodgers winning the National League Pennant.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are yet to make a significant move this winter but there are undoubtedly going to be moves made. The team has already been connected to Corey Kluber and is still in the running for Bryce Harper and Manny Machado.
Either way, the Dodgers are bound to make at least one move that no baseball analyst saw coming. People are trying to get ahead of the Dodgers, though, by predicting the piece that the team will move.
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For the most part, I have seen a lot of discussions about the Dodgers potentially trading 2018 standout Max Muncy. And of the surface, it makes sense.
Muncy was a big standout that did struggle for a decent stretch in the second half. As we enter 2019, it is unclear what Muncy’s role will be. He can play second base but his defense is not great. Unless the Dodgers move Cody Bellinger to the outfield full-time, finding a spot for Muncy in the lineup could be a challenge.
Add the consensus that Muncy is set to regress in 2019 and it definitely makes sense. I love the idea of selling high on a player while you can and getting what you can out of him before the regression hits. The only problem, with Muncy, there really is no point in trading him.
You have to ask yourself: what will the Dodgers actually get for Muncy that would help the team? If he is included in a trade package for Kluber instead of Yasiel Puig then fine, that is fair. However, if the Dodgers are out shopping Muncy, the team won’t see remotely anything that is worth it.
Just think about it, if so many fans are expecting a regress then MLB teams will too. If fans can recognize that Muncy might not be as good next year then there is not a GM in the world that does not think the same thing.
These are the smartest minds in baseball and there is no chance that an entire fan group is ahead of opposing GMs. If the Dodgers think Muncy is going to regress, so is the team they would try doing business with.
Even if it is a decent return, it is hard to find something that would make it worth it for the Dodgers to pull the trigger. They would need a great second baseman, like Scooter Gennett, or an elite reliever to really make it worth it.
There is no point in adding minor league talent and there is no point in making a horizontal or backward movement in a trade.
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The Los Angeles Dodgers shouldn’t make a trade simply to make a trade and that applies perfectly to Max Muncy. While it sounds like a smart move to expect, it ultimately would be a mistake.