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3 players who could be the Dodgers’ next Max Muncy

By Adam Weinrib |
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA - MARCH 07: Josh Ockimey #86 of the Boston Red Sox in action against the Philadelphia Phillies of a Grapefruit League spring training game on March 07, 2020 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA - MARCH 07: Josh Ockimey #86 of the Boston Red Sox in action against the Philadelphia Phillies of a Grapefruit League spring training game on March 07, 2020 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
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Josh Ockimey #76 of the Boston Red Sox (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Josh Ockimey #76 of the Boston Red Sox (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Los Angeles Dodgers Team MVP Max Muncy might miss the beginning of the 2022 season after his elbow injury upended the conclusion of the 2021 season, huh? Yikes. Sounds rough.

So can we … just go ahead and … build another Max Muncy?

While the Dodgers don’t have a literal factory in the back that turns UDFAs into All-Stars who can hit it into the ocean in San Fran, they do have a sterling player development arm that has seemingly taught many players to translate their cage work into in-game power in recent years.

And, wouldn’t you know it, there seem to be a few viable options currently floating around the minor-league free agent pool who the Dodgers might want to reach out to ahead of Spring Training.

We say this selfishly, too. Minor-league transactions are the only moves allowed right now, and we’d really like to sustain our content with a few breaking news updates. Not asking for much here. Just some crumbs.

It’s been nearly five years since the Dodgers made sure Muncy landed on his feet (April 28, 2017), signing him as a free agent after his early-March release from the Oakland A’s system. At the time, Muncy was a fifth-round pick from back in 2012 out of Baylor who’d put up big power-and-patience numbers at the lower levels (25 bombs, 100 RBI, .381 OBP across two levels in 2013).

Eventually, though, he stalled at Triple-A and his power disappeared; Muncy surprisingly posted just seven homers in 122 Texas League games at Double-A the very next season in 2014.

In finding the next Muncy — admittedly, a difficult process — we looked for recently-released players who’ve done a lot of OBP-heavy work at the minor-league level, but have either whiffed with MLB clubs or failed to crack through the ceiling.

These three options really could be solid assets for the Dodgers, and they’ll cost next to nothing to get their hands on. (NOTE: This list of minor-league free agents was our reference point.)

These 3 minor-league free agents could be the Dodgers’ next Max Muncy

3. Josh Ockimey

Josh Ockimey, a first baseman drafted by the Red Sox in the fifth round back in 2014 who loves to get on base and has some natural pop, fits the Muncy storyline almost perfectly.

The only real difference? Muncy struggled at the MLB level before resurfacing with the Dodgers, and Ockimey has never really gotten a chance to do so.

The one thing Ockimey doesn’t do? Hit for a high average, which is just about the least important things for big-league regulars these days, as long as they take their walks and develop their pop. After all, the real Muncy hit just .249 last year.

In his two recent seasons at Triple-A (2019 and 2021, thanks pandemic), Ockimey hit .204 and .225, but flexed his muscles with 25 homers and a ridiculous .353 OBP in Pawtucket before ripping 15 bombs in just 98 games in Worcester with a comparable .358 OBP this past season.

Ockimey’s best year was 2017. Split across two levels (100 games at High-A, 31 at Double-A), the first baseman hit .274 with 14 bombs, 74 RBI and a beastly .385 OBP. Positively James Loney-like, if you ask us.

The lefty-swinging Ockimey is unlikely to get a genuine chance in Boston, especially with Bobby Dalbec and tippy-top prospect Triston Casas ahead of him at the position. Re-signing with the only organization he’s ever known might bring him some comfort, but he should certainly test the waters instead — and the Dodgers should come calling.

Yairo Munoz #60 of the Boston Red Sox (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Yairo Munoz #60 of the Boston Red Sox (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

2. Yairo Muñoz

Yairo Muñoz, a floating infielder who we’re pretty sure could play any position, isn’t necessarily the New Muncy because he’ll slot in at first base on Opening Day.

He is, however, a legitimately good hitter who made waves with a Red Sox organizational record hitting streak at Triple-A Worcester last season .. and still didn’t find his way to the MLB club for longer than a few days at a time.

Another victim of the numbers game. So … can we profit?

Last year, Muñoz hit .308 with eight homers in 88 games — though alongside an OBP of just .340. With Muñoz, you’re getting a potentially electric bat-on-ball talent, and you’re hoping that once he gets into the Dodgers’ system, they’ll be able to help him lift the ball a bit more. The raw power is there; he hit 13 homers in both 2015 and 2017, and anyone who’s seen him can attest the ball jumps off his bat and there’s certainly some wiggle room for doubles and triples there.

Also, uh … in 2018 as a 23-year-old rookie with the Cardinals, the OBP soared. Muñoz hit .276 with eight bombs and a .353 OBP in 108 games.

Now, is Muñoz a free agent at the moment? He appears to be, after being outrighted off the Boston Red Sox 40-man roster just before the postseason, the victim of yet another numbers game. For some reason, he’s not noted as one on his MiLB.com page, but on the oft chance that Muñoz and the Sox settled something under the table, we’d wager he still won’t get a consistent opportunity in a crowded Boston infield this year, and could still be someone the Dodgers might target midseason as a potential Justin Turner insurance policy — or replacement, if the development process goes especially well?

Greg Bird #13 of the Colorado Rockies (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Greg Bird #13 of the Colorado Rockies (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /

1. Greg Bird

Other than the fact that he’s already turned 29, minor-league free agent Greg Bird would be the absolute perfect target for the Dodgers to take a flyer on at first base.

All through the minors, Bird’s patience and surprising pop were his calling cards; his 2013 season at Single-A Charleston stands out, as he hit .288 with a .420 OBP and 20 bombs. With the Yankees, his impact was immediate. Bird helped the 2015 Yankees close out the season with 11 homers in 46 games.

Unfortunately, as the injuries piled up (and piled up, and piled up…), his bat began to surprisingly lose speed, leading to an unholy and unforeseen amount of swing-and-miss. Suddenly, Bird was late on fastballs in the zone. He struck out 78 times in 272 at-bats in 2018, and never hit above .200 again in partial seasons in New York from 2017-2019 (though his pop came back in the 2017 ALDS against Andrew Miller).

Finally, the Yankees cut bait before the 2020 season, giving Bird a chance to hook on with the Texas Rangers — a team for which he never played, thanks once again to the famous COVID-19 pandemic.

When Bird actually returned in 2021 with the Colorado Rockies’ Triple-A affiliate, the Albuquerque Isotopes, he looked like … well, the guy the Yankees thought they might have back in 2015. 27 homers, 91 bombs, a .267 average, a .362 OBP, and — perhaps most importantly — 112 games played all add up to a successful season, even in the hitter-happy PCL.

At season’s end, the Rockies did not make room for Bird, though, leaving the Dodgers in line to reap the spoils from their division rival.

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