Seven National League Teams That Would Greatly Benefit From Having The DH

The initials may not yet stand for Definitely Here, at least not in the National League, but you can bet that the DH will be universal by the 2020 season. Using the Designated Hitter in the N. L. was among the rule changes being discussed last week among officials in Major League Baseball, but for this upcoming season Commissioner Rob Manfred has declared that the parties are going to concentrate on rules that concern pace of play such as the pitch clock and manager challenges.

Had MLB indeed have implemented the DH in the Senior Circuit starting in 2019, the change would have given a big boost to several teams while having little effect on most. Some rosters include players who would serve as the quintessential DH, including several All-Stars.

The most obvious of these beneficiaries of an N.L. designated hitter would be the Chicago Cubs, who have Kyle Schwarber. After beginning his career as a catcher the stocky slugger shifted to the outfield, mainly because the Cubs already had All-Star Anthony Rizzo entrenched at first base. Because of a lack of range and other defensive flaws, Schwarber has for the past few seasons been involved in trade talks with American League teams.

The team that edged the Cubs for the championship of the N.L. Central division last year, the Milwaukee Brewers, would also benefit from implementation of the DH rule. Former Most Valuable Player Ryan Braun lost a regular outfield spot last year when the Crew acquired Marcel Ozuna from the Florida Marlins, so Braun's bat could be in the lineup more often if the DH were an option. Milwaukee also has first baseman Jesus Aguilar, a large slugger who would benefit from not having to play in the field on a regular basis.

Right on the heels of both the Cubs and Brewers were the St. Louis Cardinals, who would also reap benefits from a DH. Young slugger Jose Martinez blasted seventeen home runs with an impressive .305 batting average in 2018, playing splitting time between first base and the outfield. Since the Cards acquired All-Star Paul Goldschmidt from the Arizona Diamondbacks over the winter, Martinez has been left without a regular spot in the lineup.

Even the team at the bottom of the N.L. Central would welcome the opportunity to use a DH, especially after the huge trade over the winter. The Cincinnati Reds received outfielders Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig from the Los Angeles Dodgers, which gives the Queen City team a clog in the outfield.

While Puig should be a good fit in right field, Kemp on the other hand is at the top of the depth chart at none of the outfield positions. Cincinnati currently figures Scott Schebler in center and Jesse Winker in left, which would leave Kemp as an ideal candidate to be the team's DH.

Kemp's former team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, also would take advantage of having a lineup spot for a hitter only. Russell Martin, who was acquired over the off season, could have his bat in the lineup on days when he was not catching.

The biggest rival of LA, the San Francisco Giants, would also find the DH option quite advantageous. Pablo "the Panda" Sandoval has always been limited defensively at both third and first, but in the DH spot his powerful bat could anchor a team that has for the last half decade lacked much offensive punch.

Another traditionally offensively challenged contender is the New York Mets, who would certainly make use of the designated hitter rule. Newly acquired Jed Lowrie has taken over third base, which shifted All-Star Todd Frazier to the opposite corner. Top prospect Peter Alonso, whose bat has been Major League ready for over a season, is limited to first base since the N.L. does not use the DH.

Some of these players may still be with their respective teams in 2020, by which time the DH will in all likelihood be universal. That probability might very well play a role in determining whether the clubs choose to trade or hold on to these and other defensively-challenged but feared sluggers.