3 players who could be the Dodgers’ next Max Muncy

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?