Dodgers quickly claim and delete Yankees infielder from roster after Max Muncy injury

After a rough, slow start to the season, Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy finally hit his stride in June. Unfortunately, his monthlong hot streak has been cut short due to a bone bruise in his left knee.

The Dodgers will need a replacement for the six-ish weeks they expect Muncy to be sidelined, and they may have found a depth option on the waiver wire. LA, on July 3, claimed infielder CJ Alexander from the New York Yankees. It designated Steward Berroa for assignment to make room for Alexander on the 40-man roster.

The Yankees designated Alexander for assignment on June 30 after he posted 13 games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He collected nine hits, three runs, three RBI, 16 strikeouts and seven walks in that time. Alexander also appeared in the A's minor league system this season and slashed .252/.348/.509 with seven doubles, two triples, 10 homers and 33 RBI over 42 games with Triple-A Las Vegas.

Alexander, 28, has also appeared in the big leagues for two teams — the Royals in 2024 and the A's in 2025. He posted four singles and 11 strikeouts in his short, 10-game big league career. And he will ... not be adding the Dodgers to that list of big-league appearances, at least for now. On Monday, he was jettisoned as part of an injury-related roster overhaul, having appeared in two - count 'em, two - games for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets.

Dodgers DFA infielder CJ Alexander after recent claim from Yankees

The Dodgers have used Miguel Rojas at third base in Muncy's stead, and he's gotten hot at the plate in his recent appearances. Rojas is batting. .246/.288/.390 over 53 games this season, but .370/.433/.778 in his last 15 games. If the veteran's hot streak continues, it could be a while before LA needs an alternative in the major leagues, even after valued utility man Kiké Hernández found himself placed on the IL. Rojas' recent offensive performance has been better than anything Alexander has posted in the majors or minor leagues this year; the Dodgers probably made the right call prioritizing a 40-man spot for reliever Julian Fernández instead.

It would be hard to fully replace Muncy at the rate he was going before his injury. He batted .333/.459/.654 with seven homers and 24 RBI in June, and neither Rojas nor Alexander (nor an undetermined third option) seems primed to match that any time soon.

What was ... the point of any of that shuffling?