The World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers exercised the contract options of third baseman Max Muncy and reliever Alex Vesia on Thursday.
Muncy had a $10 million team option as part of a contract that paid $24 million for 2024-25. The 35-year-old third baseman hit .243 with 19 homers and 67 RBIs in 100 games, spending time on the injured list with a bone bruise in his left knee and a right oblique strain.
His eighth-inning homer off Toronto rookie Trey Yesavage cut the Dodgers’ deficit to one run in Los Angeles’ 5-4, 11-inning victory in Game 7 of the World Series for its second straight title. It was Muncy’s team-record 16th postseason homer.
If his option had been declined, Muncy would have been a free agent.
Los Angeles could have declined the option of Vesia, who gets a $3.55 million salary rather than a $50,000 buyout, If the Dodgers had declined, he would have eligible for arbitration. The 29-year-old left-hander was 4-2 with a 3.02 ERA and five saves this year, when he had a $2.25 million salary. He missed the World Series because of a personal matter.
Also Thursday, former All-Star pitcher Tony Gonsolin was designated for assignment after his last two years were wracked by injuries.
The 31-year-old right-hander made just seven starts before having elbow surgery that ended his season this year. He previously missed all of 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Gonsolin had a career year in 2022, when he opened 11-0 with a 2.02 ERA. He was the losing pitcher in the All-Star Game after allowing three runs on four hits, including two home runs. By August, he went on the injured list with a forearm strain and did not return until the penultimate game of the regular season. He finished 16-1 with a 2.14 ERA and 119 strikeouts.
The Dodgers added outfielder Ryan Ward and left-hander Robinson Ortiz to the 40-man roster.
Ward was the Pacific Coast League MVP this season, hitting .290 with 36 homers and 122 RBI for Triple-A Oklahoma City. Ortiz was 5-2 with a 2.73 ERA in 48 games between High-A and Triple-A.
Outfielder Justin Dean and right-hander Michael Grove were outrighted. Dean was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants. Grove missed this season after having surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. He had pitched in parts of the previous three seasons for the Dodgers.
Reporting by The Associated Press.
Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
