The 2025 Substitute-Stage Killers: Designated Hitter

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

On the different positions on this sequence, I’ve used about 0.6 WAR or much less to date — 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 under 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 under 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, right now final yr, half the groups within the majors have been at 0.0 WAR or much less. DHs as a gaggle have hit .239/.322/.422 for a 108 wRC+ this season, the final of which matches 2024’s last 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 yr, we’re on tempo for 10. That mentioned, 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 massive postseason moments alongside the way in which whereas gaining a popularity as a constructive clubhouse presence as properly. 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 person might 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 Could attributable to 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 follow 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 stuffed 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 general; his 98 wRC+ ranks fifth on the group, whereas Smith (117 wRC+) ranks third.

On condition that the Rangers are simply 48-49 with 17.7% Playoff Odds, they might wind up promoting on the deadline as an alternative of shopping for, but when they do look so as to add bats, Orioles DH/1B Ryan O’Hearn can be an amazing match, as Burger’s struggles landed the Rangers on the primary base version of this sequence. The Diamondbacks’ Josh Naylor would match as properly; Arizona (47-50, 10.2% odds) is in an identical boat as Texas. Each O’Hearn and Naylor are pending free brokers, and lefties, so issues might get just a little crowded if and when Pederson returns, however that’s a minor challenge. 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 under the primary Aggressive Steadiness Tax threshold and who produce other must fill as properly 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, the perfect 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 honest, 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 area inside this sequence. Pasquantino is hitting .272/.329/.437 (109 wRC+) general, proper in step with his current manufacturing; previous to this yr, his wRC+ as a DH was one level greater than as a primary baseman (115 vs. 114), however this yr the cut up is huge within the different course.

Depend the Royals (47-50, 11.7% odds) on the fringes of competition as properly; they’ve obtained the pitching to make it however they want bats galore, significantly on condition that their nook outfielders alone have been 3.8 wins under alternative degree. The group did simply commerce for Adam Frazier, who can play second base and the corners, so if that’s a sign that the Royals take into account themselves in, then the aforementioned choices talked about relating to the Rangers apply right here, too. One other one who could 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 yr of a five-year, $90 million take care of 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 solid 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 some place 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 Could. The latter, who’s been one of many group’s most nice surprises this season by way of his .265/.324/.451 (119 wRC+) efficiency, has currently been getting many of the taking part in time in left area — and thus far it’s labored out fairly properly, in distinction to his earlier cringeworthy defensive metrics as a White Sox proper fielder. Past that pair, it’s been a rotating solid, with Luis Arraez making 14 begins, Trenton Brooks 10, Manny Machado 9, Luis Campusano eight, and 4 different gamers in addition to Gurriel with 5 or fewer.

The plain 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+) general, 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 take care of the Marlins and who spent elements of ’19 and ’20 with San Diego earlier than being dealt to Cleveland — can be nice matches, although the latter could also be harder to amass throughout the division. Buying and selling for a left fielder and returning Sheets to common DH obligation is another choice, one which places names equivalent to Andrew Benintendi, Jesús Sánchez, Mike Tauchman, and Taylor Ward in play (caveat emptor).

Reds

Supervisor Terry Francona has used a rotating solid 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 group’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+) general, he’s gone from a 42 wRC+ in March and April to a 116 wRC+, with 9 of his 11 homers coming since Could 1. Lux has hit a modest .265/.355/.379 (106 wRC+) whereas bouncing between DH and left area (the place his protection has been DH-caliber), with spot obligation at second and third base as properly. Hays has been very efficient when out there (.287/.323/.517, 124 wRC+), however he has carried out three separate IL stints for left calf and left hamstring strains and a left foot contusion; he and Lux have typically shared the left area and DH roles towards righties. Stephenson, who started the yr on the IL attributable to an indirect pressure, has DH’d on days he isn’t catching, however has hit a modest .232/.313/.384 (90 wRC+).

Notably on condition that the Reds landed on the Killers checklist for each outfield corners in addition to first base (the place Steer’s issues are at the very least apparently behind him), it’s clear they want offense from exterior. Somebody who might match into the outfield combine and bump Lux right into a better 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 choice 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 state of affairs by bumping full-timer Wilmer Flores — who has hit a modest .244/.320/.376 (101 wRC+) general — into the quick 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 harm and what was lately recognized as (gulp) a disc harm 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 general .255/.384/.460 (133 wRC+) efficiency would elevate the bar significantly at one Giants hassle spot or one other — if he’s absolutely wholesome, however that’s instantly an even bigger “if” than beforehand thought. I wouldn’t anticipate them to make an addition right here, but when they will add a real first baseman, Flores might change into one other group’s potential DH answer.

Astros

It’s no thriller why the Astros are right here. They make use of the perfect 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 prime of early-season mechanical points, he went on the injured checklist on Could 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 every week or two to ramp up and full a rehab project. 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 properly (.277/.336/.465, 121 wRC+) however his protection each in left area and at second base has been brutal; sadly, the Astros don’t have a extra productive left fielder to place on the market, significantly with Mauricio Dubón their most suitable choice at second base and Zach Dezenzo on the 60-day IL attributable to a capsule pressure in his left hand. If Alvarez can return, this can be a drawback solved. If not, they at the very least have some flexibility to fill the slot by including both a left fielder or a second baseman.