MLB: Designated Hitter Options for the NL East
In the discussion of who can bring the designated hitter to the National League, one of the arguments against such a move is the roster adjustments teams in the Senior Circuit would have to make to prepare for such a move.
Balderdash! There are players on every roster who can take over the role starting in 2017. This slide show discussed specifically the East Division; you can checkout the NL West and NL Central as well.
The players listed are under contract to their current teams at least through next season, but there’s a wide pay gap among them. Some are on the list to help prolong their careers; an unintended consequence of the DH when it was implemented in the American League 40-plus years ago. Some are, arguably, on a Hall-Of Fame career trajectory, while others could use a boost from the DH, and a few might need the at-bats to keep their jobs. Some are Gold Glovers defensively; there may be a player or two for whom there is no such thing as a “routine play.”
So, let’s get this show on the road!
Next: New York Mets
David Wright‘s every day work habits, just to keep him on the field, is well documented. He takes less batting practice, less infield practice and throws less in in-between inning warmups than anyone else in the league; his back is just that fragile.
As he ages and plays, his back simply isn’t going to get any better. The cold, hard fact of the matter is if the DH isn’t brought in to the National League, Wright will retire in an American League uniform as a designated hitter. Teams know he can’t run well, won’t take any chances on the bases and the Mets can’t defensively shift him the way others can with their third basemen.
Wright has to make a point to throw with his feet properly positioned, or not at all. Each throw is a careful evaluation, and I can see him running a mental checklist with every ground ball. He’s not playing because of his defense. He’s playing defense because the Mets need his bat.
No team in the NL needs the DH more than the defending champions of the league.
Next: Washington Nationals
The contract the Washington Nationals entered into with Jayson Werth to start the 2011 season necessitates keeping his bat in the lineup. He’s not yet a total defensive liability, but Father Time eventually takes everyone’s skills; Werth is no exception.
Werth understands what needs to be done here, and in interleague games so far in 2016 he’s handled the role as well as anyone. Nats manager Dusty Baker uses the DH to give players breaks when he can now; going forward Werth will be his best option.
Another option for the Nationals is Ryan Zimmerman, who splits time between third on occasion, but gets most of his playing time at first base. He’s not the third baseman he once was, and the Nats keep his bat in the lineup at first base; a position he’s had to learn on the fly. Steven Drew, listed on the roster at three different positions, could also gain some at-bats there while he ages.
Really, the Nationals could use a DH this season, with the clock ticking down toward the Bryce Harper lotto-sweepstakes. If Harper signs elsewhere, the Nationals won’t lack for pop, but they’ll need a DH to get the most mileage of those they have left.
Next: Atlanta Braves
My choice for Atlanta Braves designated hitter for 2017 is Erick Aybar. My reasoning? “Why not?” He meets the contract criteria I set forth, but to be honest the Braves probably need his defensive leadership on the field at this point.
My only other suggestion is for the Braves to channel their inner Bill Veeck and hold a “DH for a Day” tryout. With the Braves in full rebuilding mode, and the team arguably as bereft of talent as any in Hotlanta since the mid 1980s, when Skip Caray closed a telecast with “well, the Braves managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory today.”
Like the Reds (and others), Atlanta could use the DH as an evaluation and/or developmental tool for the future, when they open a new stadium away from the place built in part for the 1996 Summer Olympics. The Braves should avoid using Freddie Freeman at that spot except to give him a break from the heat. Nick Markakis might be another nominee but, again, that’s not what he’s there for. And don’t even get me started on Jeff Francour; he’s one of the great guys in sports, but if he could hit at all he would still be with the Kansas City Royals.
The pitchers might be the better choice if Frenchy and they were the only two options.
Next: Philadelphia Phillies
The designated hitter may well be Ryan Howard‘s best bet to retire a Philadelphia Phillie, albeit at a huge discount after the 2017 season.
Listen, one of the hardest things to watch in all of sports was Howard writhing on the ground in pain after becoming the final out of the 2011 LDS loss to the Cardinals. It took him two years to get to the point where he can play most of the time; over the last two seasons he’s had at least 500 at-bats.
But he’s not the same player he was as the 2011 NL MVP. It seems he’s a shadow of his former self. At 36 he’s a good defensive first baseman at a time where great is more or less a standard; rarely has there been a time where so many teams had a top-notch player at first. He’s had 23 homers and at least 90 RBI in each of the last two seasons. He’s also struck out a lot, but that’s always been the case. Howard has worked harder than most of us can imagine to return; it seems the Achilles is among the most difficult injuries from which to recover.
He’s made his coin, and it’d be a shame if he couldn’t be a part of returning the Phillies at least a little closer to their recent glory days.
Next: Miami Marlins
Among professional athletes who’ve aged gracefully, Ichiro Suzuki must be in the discussion.
In 2017 he’ll be 43, and if the first month of the season is an indicator, then he’ll need to be a designated hitter to get to his customary 150 games played every season by that point. The guy has been, arguably, the best hitter in the history of the game; certainly so on a global scale.
He’ll get his 3,000th Major League hit this season, and had he played in the United States his entire career, there’s no doubt in the minds of many he’d have surpassed Pete Rose as the all-time hit king. Historically, the Miami Marlins have been either in perpetual rebuilding mode, or gone out and bought themselves a World Series title with a fire sale unlike any other franchise.
He makes this list because he is under contract for 2017, and the Marlins won’t trade him to a contender until he gets to 3,000. He and Giancarlo Stanton are the primary reasons to buy a ticket to see the Marlins these days. I mean, Ichiro and Stanton are both rightfielders by trade. It’s not like the Marlins will platoon them. And Ichiro’s contract is, for the kind of hitter he remains, cheap.
Next: Rule V picks making their marks
C’mon, Mr. Clark; help they guy get his AB’s.