The 2025 Alternative-Stage Killers: Designated Hitter

Finally we attain the tip of my annual collection spotlighting the weakest positions on contending golf equipment. Whereas nonetheless focusing upon groups that meet that free definition of contenders (a .500 document or Playoff Odds round 10%), I’ve additionally included our Depth Charts’ rest-of-season WAR projections into the equation for an extra perspective. Generally that will counsel that the workforce will clear the bar by a big margin, besides, I’ve included them right here as a result of the workforce’s efficiency is value a glance.

On the different positions on this collection, I’ve used about 0.6 WAR or much less so far — which prorates to 1.0 WAR over a full season — as my cutoff, however for the designated hitters, I’ve restricted the checklist to the groups beneath zero, each to maintain the size manageable and to account for the final unfold of worth. Within the fourth full season of the common DH, 0.6 WAR represents the median, with 10 groups beneath zero, 11 between zero and 1.0, and eight with 1.0 or extra, with solely 4 of these eight reaching 2.0. By comparability, at the moment final 12 months, half the groups within the majors had been at 0.0 WAR or much less. DHs as a bunch have hit .239/.322/.422 for a 108 wRC+ this season, the final of which matches 2024’s ultimate determine.

It does seem that an growing variety of groups are investing extra taking part in time in a single DH. From 2022 (the primary full-length season with the common DH) to ’24, the variety of gamers reaching 450 plate appearances within the DH position elevated from three to 4 to seven; this 12 months, we’re on tempo for 10. That stated, most of the groups on this checklist are those that haven’t discovered that particular somebody to take the lion’s share of the plate appearances.

Rangers

Although he’s had his ups and downs, Joc Pederson has typically been a dependable energy bat for a bunch of contending groups, producing some huge postseason moments alongside the best way whereas gaining a fame as a constructive clubhouse presence as effectively. He hit for a 151 wRC+ with 23 homers and three.0 WAR final season with the Diamondbacks, so it didn’t appear unreasonable for the Rangers to signal him to a two-year, $37 million deal. No one may have foreseen that he’d endure a grueling 0-for-41 stretch in his first month as a Ranger, or that he’d land on the injured checklist in late Might as a result of a hit-by-pitch-induced fracture of his fifth metacarpal in his proper hand. Pederson, who carried a grim .131/.269/.238 (51 wRC+) slashline to the IL, isn’t even anticipated to renew batting apply till late July or early August.

In Pederson’s absence, supervisor Bruce Bochy has used a number of lineup regulars at DH. Catchers Jonah Heim and Kyle Higashioka have mixed for 25 DH begins (they’ve been horrible on this capability, with the previous eking out a 31 wRC+ and the latter a 22), and utilityman Josh Smith has made eight, although none since June 22 as he’s crammed in at first base throughout Jake Burger’s IL stint and at third following Josh Jung’s demotion. Currently it’s been the 2 catchers plus Sam Haggerty and Alejandro Osuna. Haggerty has hit .250/.329/.375 total; his 98 wRC+ ranks fifth on the workforce, whereas Smith (117 wRC+) ranks third.

Provided that the Rangers are simply 48-49 with 17.7% Playoff Odds, they might wind up promoting on the deadline as a substitute of shopping for, but when they do look so as to add bats, Orioles DH/1B Ryan O’Hearn can be a terrific match, as Burger’s struggles landed the Rangers on the primary base version of this collection. The Diamondbacks’ Josh Naylor would match as effectively; Arizona (47-50, 10.2% odds) is in an analogous boat as Texas. Each O’Hearn and Naylor are pending free brokers, and lefties, so issues may get a bit of crowded if and when Pederson returns, however that’s a minor difficulty. The Braves’ Marcell Ozuna, a righty, has the next wage ($16 million vs. $10.9 million for Naylor and $8 million for O’Hearn); that may very well be an even bigger issue for the Rangers, who’re solely about $6.5 million beneath the primary Aggressive Steadiness Tax threshold and who produce other must fill as effectively in the event that they buy groceries.

Royals

Vinnie Pasquantino (28 begins), Salvador Perez (22 begins) and Jonathan India (15 begins) collectively account for about two-thirds of the Royals’ taking part in time at DH. Perez has managed a 100 wRC+ in that capability, one of the best of these three by far (India is at 78, Pasquantino 42). Total, the 35-year-old Royals legend has slipped to .244/.287/.420 (90 wRC+), although to be truthful, he’s hitting the ball arduous sufficient to provide a .529 xSLG. India’s greatest defensive place is DH; he’s hitting simply .251/.332/.348 (91 wRC+) and has factored into the Royals’ appearances at second base and left discipline inside this collection. Pasquantino is hitting .272/.329/.437 (109 wRC+) total, proper in step with his latest manufacturing; previous to this 12 months, his wRC+ as a DH was one level larger than as a primary baseman (115 vs. 114), however this 12 months the cut up is huge within the different course.

Rely the Royals (47-50, 11.7% odds) on the fringes of rivalry as effectively; they’ve bought the pitching to make it however they want bats galore, notably provided that their nook outfielders alone have been 3.8 wins beneath alternative stage. The workforce did simply commerce for Adam Frazier, who can play second base and the corners, so if that’s a sign that the Royals contemplate themselves in, then the aforementioned choices talked about relating to the Rangers apply right here, too. One other one who is likely to be value mentioning is Masataka Yoshida, who’s solely performed 4 video games since coming back from proper labrum surgical procedure this previous offseason. He’s within the third 12 months of a five-year, $90 million cope with the Crimson Sox and has hit for a 113 wRC+ via his first two seasons, however has been pushed to the margins due to the overflow from their crowded outfield. (His personal defensive shortcomings forged him as a DH already.) If Boston is prepared to eat sufficient of his remaining contract, he may very well be on the transfer — if not right here then someplace else.

Padres

San Diego started the season with a DH platoon of Yuli Gurriel and Gavin Sheets, however the former’s bat turned out to be cooked, so he was launched in early Might. The latter, who’s been one of many workforce’s most nice surprises this season by way of his .265/.324/.451 (119 wRC+) efficiency, has recently been getting a lot of the taking part in time in left discipline — and thus far it’s labored out moderately effectively, in distinction to his earlier cringeworthy defensive metrics as a White Sox proper fielder. Past that pair, it’s been a rotating forged, with Luis Arraez making 14 begins, Trenton Brooks 10, Manny Machado 9, Luis Campusano eight, and 4 different gamers apart from Gurriel with 5 or fewer.

The apparent reply to the Padres’ lack of manufacturing at DH can be to park Arraez right here and let him do his factor. Whereas he’s hit simply .279/.314/.389 (100 wRC+) total, he’s produced a 122 wRC+ in 65 PA as a DH; in the meantime, along with underperforming relative to different first basemen, his protection there was DH-caliber (-6 FRV and -3 DRS in simply 658 2/3 innings). That plan would require buying and selling for a primary baseman. O’Hearn and Naylor — whom A.J. Preller acquired in a 2016 deadline cope with the Marlins and who spent elements of ’19 and ’20 with San Diego earlier than being dealt to Cleveland — can be nice suits, although the latter could also be tougher to accumulate throughout the division. Buying and selling for a left fielder and returning Sheets to common DH responsibility is an alternative choice, one which places names similar to Andrew Benintendi, Jesús Sánchez, Mike Tauchman, and Taylor Ward in play (caveat emptor).

Reds

Supervisor Terry Francona has used a rotating forged at DH, with Gavin Lux making 30 begins, Austin Hays 26, and Spencer Steer and Tyler Stephenson 16 apiece; no different participant has greater than three. Steer’s DH time all occurred throughout the workforce’s first 20 video games, as he acquired a cortisone shot in his bothersome proper shoulder throughout spring coaching. Whereas he’s hit simply .251/.308/.406 (95 wRC+) total, he’s gone from a 42 wRC+ in March and April to a 116 wRC+, with 9 of his 11 homers coming since Might 1. Lux has hit a modest .265/.355/.379 (106 wRC+) whereas bouncing between DH and left discipline (the place his protection has been DH-caliber), with spot responsibility at second and third base as effectively. Hays has been very efficient when obtainable (.287/.323/.517, 124 wRC+), however he has performed three separate IL stints for left calf and left hamstring strains and a left foot contusion; he and Lux have typically shared the left discipline and DH roles towards righties. Stephenson, who started the 12 months on the IL as a result of an indirect pressure, has DH’d on days he isn’t catching, however has hit a modest .232/.313/.384 (90 wRC+).

Significantly provided that the Reds landed on the Killers checklist for each outfield corners in addition to first base (the place Steer’s issues are no less than apparently behind him), it’s clear they want offense from outdoors. Somebody who may match into the outfield combine and bump Lux right into a higher share of the DH position would work. O’Hearn and Orioles outfielder Ramón Laureano are each believable candidates; the latter even has a $6.5 million possibility for subsequent season. Naylor and Ozuna would even be top-shelf additions.

Giants

If nothing else, the Rafael Devers blockbuster shored up the Giants’ DH scenario by bumping full-timer Wilmer Flores — who has hit a modest .244/.320/.376 (101 wRC+) total — into the brief half of a primary base platoon with Dominic Smith. A part of the drama that preceded the commerce with Boston included the 28-year-old slugger’s refusal to study first base on the fly throughout the season, however upon being dealt, Devers agreed to take action, although his exercises have been restricted by a minor groin damage and what was not too long ago recognized as (gulp) a disc damage in his decrease again. Although Devers, who has been on anti-inflammatory treatment, has hit for only a 104 wRC+ for the reason that commerce, his total .255/.384/.460 (133 wRC+) efficiency would increase the bar significantly at one Giants hassle spot or one other — if he’s totally wholesome, however that’s all of the sudden an even bigger “if” than beforehand thought. I wouldn’t count on them to make an addition right here, but when they’ll add a real first baseman, Flores may change into one other workforce’s potential DH resolution.

Astros

It’s no thriller why the Astros are right here. They make use of one of the best DH on the planet this facet of Shohei Ohtani in Yordan Alvarez, however the 28-year-old slugger has been restricted to 29 video games and a .210/.306/.340 (75 wRC+) slashline. On high of early-season mechanical points, he went on the injured checklist on Might 5 with what was initially recognized as a muscle pressure in his proper hand however later found to be a fractured fourth metacarpal, which was obscured by irritation on his MRI. The fracture has healed, however as of early July he was nonetheless coping with irritation and acquired two injections. He was scheduled to be reevaluated on Thursday, with hopes that he can be cleared to start out swinging a bat. At this writing, there’s no report on how that went, however as soon as cleared he may wish per week or two to ramp up and full a rehab task. Hand accidents being what they’re, it’s no assure he’ll be raking at his typical clip, however maybe the reset will assist.

Within the meantime, the Astros could also be greatest served through the use of Jose Altuve as their DH. As famous in Thursday’s installment, he’s hit fairly effectively (.277/.336/.465, 121 wRC+) however his protection each in left discipline and at second base has been brutal; sadly, the Astros don’t have a extra productive left fielder to place on the market, notably with Mauricio Dubón their most suitable choice at second base and Zach Dezenzo on the 60-day IL as a result of a capsule pressure in his left hand. If Alvarez can return, it is a drawback solved. If not, they no less than have some flexibility to fill the slot by including both a left fielder or a second baseman.