‘What else did you expect?!!!’
Those were Kiké Hernández’s own words when he broke the news on his Instagram Thursday morning that he was re-signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The defending back-to-back World Series champions also announced a one-year extension of third baseman Max Muncy’s contract. As had been mostly expected all offseason, the two stalwart veterans are re-joining the Dodgers just ahead of spring training.
In a corresponding move, the Dodgers placed right-handed pitcher Evan Phillips on the 60-day injured list.
‘[Three] in a row has a nice ring to it,’ Hernández said in his post, accompanied by a picture of him at the Dodgers’ World Series parade from November.
Kiké Hernández contract details
According to multiple reports, Hernández’s deal is for one-year, $4.5 million. The longtime fan favorite at Dodger Stadium underwent surgery on his left elbow over the offseason and is not expected to be ready for Opening Day, which is part of the reason he and the Dodgers waited until spring to get the contract done. That way, the club could place him on the 60-day IL and keep a 40-man roster spot open.
The 34-year-old utilityman’s numbers during the regular season declined in 2025 — his .621 OPS was a career-low — but the legend of ‘October Kiké’ once again rose to the occasion. Starting in 17 postseason games, Hernández put together multiple clutch performances, including back-to-back multi-hit games in the Wild Card and a crucial two-run double as the Dodgers rallied to beat the Philadelphia Phillies in game one of the NLDS.
But his biggest moment — maybe of his career — came in Game 6 of the World Series when Hernández possibly saved the Dodgers season when he turned a game-ending double play with the bases loaded on a running catch in left field that he immediately threw to Miguel Rojas at second base to force a game seven.
“October Kiké is something pretty special,” manager Dave Roberts said at the time. “And the track record speaks for itself. Throughout history, he’s one of the best throughout history of the postseason.”
Max Muncy contract details
Muncy, the longest-tenured Dodger, is now guaranteed through his age-37 season after agreeing to a team-friendly extension. He’s set to earn $7 million in 2027 with a $10 million option for 2028. Muncy has long been open about his desire to remain with the Dodgers — who signed him to a Minor League deal in 2017 after he was designated for assignment by the Oakland Athletics and has since turned into a shining model of the Dodgers’ player development — for the rest of his career, and this deal seems like it could get him there.
Muncy has played in just 173 games over the last two seasons due to injuries. But like Hernández, he played his best ball in October. His best moment came in the ninth inning of game two of the NLDS when he and Mookie Betts ran the wheel play to perfection to get Nick Castellanos out at third base.
In game two of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers, Muncy took a fastball deep to straightaway center field for his 14th career postseason home run, breaking the Dodgers’ franchise record. He would go on to hit two more in October, putting his mark at 16 for now.
‘It means a lot to me,’ Muncy said in October. ‘The Dodgers are a franchise that has been around for a very, very long time. A lot of very successful players have played in this organization. And to be able to break that record is kind of huge for me.’