LOS ANGELES (AP) — 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.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Los Angeles Dodgers' Max Muncy hits a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the eighth inning in Game 7 of baseball's World Series in Toronto on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama returned from a first-quarter injury scare to score 22 points and grab 10 rebounds and lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 119-101 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night.
Stephon Castle added 19 points and 10 assists and Julian Champagnie had 13 points and 11 rebounds for San Antonio. The Spurs led by 39 points early in the fourth quarter.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 21 points as Milwaukee suffered its third straight loss.
It was the Bucks' second straight lopsided loss after being booed at home during a 139-106 setback to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday.
Wembanyama startled the sellout crowd at the Frost Bank Center and it had nothing to do with his freshly shaved scalp.
He returned to the court after making knee-to-knee contact with Antetokounmpo's left leg under the Bucks basket with 9:18 remaining in the first quarter. Wembanyama dropped to the court in pain before rising and hobbling unassisted in a half sprint toward the locker room.
The 7-foot-4 center from France suffered a hyperextended knee on Dec. 31 in the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks in a similar play. He returned to watch from the bench on New Year's Eve but missed the next two games.
Wembanyama returned to the bench at the close of the first quarter Thursday, but this time he went back on the court to start the second quarter.
Wembanyama had 11 points, six rebounds and a blocked shot while playing 12 minutes, 27 seconds in the second quarter.
San Antonio outscored Milwaukee 35-26 during the second quarter in taking a 66-53 lead at the half. The lead expanded to 37 points in the third quarter as both teams sat their starters to open the fourth.
Kyle Kuzma had 18 points and Bobby Portis added 13 points for the Bucks.
Bucks: At Atlanta on Monday night.
Spurs: Host Minnesota on Saturday night.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins (13) scores past San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes (40) and forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner (3) and guard Ryan Rollins, second from right, battle San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet, left, and guard De'aaron Fox, right, for a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) is blocked as he drives to the basket against San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) scores over Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins (13) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama, left, drives against Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
