2025 Alternative Class Killer: Designated Batsman

Finally, we reached the end of the annual series, focusing on the weakest positions of the competitive club. Although still focusing on teams that fit the loose definition of competitors (about 10% of the .500 record or playoff odds), I also incorporated our depth chart seasonal war predictions into the equation for additional perspectives. Sometimes this may indicate that the team will clear the standards significantly, but even so, I include them here because the team’s performance is worth a look.

Other positions in this series I have used around 0.6 Wars so far (1.0 Wars throughout the season), which is my critical value, but for designated hitters I limit the list to teams below zero, both keeping the length manageable and the overall value of the value. In the fourth season of General DH, the 0.6 War represents the median, with 10 teams below zero, between zero and 1.0, with 8 at 1.0 or higher, and only 4 out of eight reached 2.0. By comparison, at this time last year, half of the Grand Slam teams were in the 0.0 war or less. DHS’ 108 WRC+ hits .239/.322/.422 this season, with the last matching the last in 2024.

It seems that more and more teams are investing more playing time in a single DH. From 2022 (the first full-length season with Universal DH) to 24 years, the number of players reaching 450 sets in DH roles has increased from three to four to four to seven; this year, we are on a 10 pace. That said, many of the teams on this list did not find those special people to participate in the Big Lions.

Forest Ranger

Despite his ups and downs, Joc Pederson is usually a reliable power racket for a group of competitive teams, producing some playoff moments in the process while also gaining a reputation as an active conference hall. He hit the Rattlers with 23 home runs and 3.0 Wars last season with 151 WRC+, so the Rangers signed him for two years, with a $37 million deal not unreasonable. No one could have expected him to endure a tough 4-1 in his first month of Ranger, or to be on the injured list because he suffered a hit rate-induced fracture on the fifth metacarpal bone of his right hand. Pederson carries a grim .131/.269/.238 (51 WRC+) slash, not even expecting to resume batting practice until late July or early August.

In the absence of Pederson, manager Bruce Bochy used several lineup regulars at DH. Receivers Jonah Heim and Kyle Higashioka combined a DH 25 (they were bad in this capacity, the former having 31 WRC+ 22 times as well as the latter), while Josh Smith hasn’t made eight times since June 22, although he hasn’t filled after the first base in Jake Burger’s Il Il Il Il Il Il Il Il Il inther Il Josh Josh Josh Josh Jund Demotiion as he fills in both of them. Recently, it’s two receivers plus Sam Haggerty and Alejandro Osuna. Haggerty overall hit .250/.329/.375; his 98 WRC+ ranked fifth in the team, while Smith (117 WRC+) ranked third.

Given that the Rangers are only 48-49 and have 17.7% playoff odds, they may be on the deadline rather than buying, but if they do wish to add the Bat, the Orioles DH/1B Ryan O’Hearn would be a big choice as Burger’s fight will land the Rangers on the first base in this series. The Rattlesnake’s Josh Naylor will also fit; Arizona (47-50, 10.2% odds) is similar to Texas. O’Hearn and Naylor are both waiting for free agents and left-handers, so things may get a little crowded if Pederson returns, but that’s a minor issue. Marcell Ozuna of the Brave is the right salary ($16 million, Naylor $10.9 million, O’Hearn $8 million); for the Wanderer, that could be a bigger factor, which is only about $6.5 million below the first competitive balance tax threshold, and they have other things to fill if they go shopping.

Royal

Vinnie Pasquantino (28 starts), Salvador Perez (22 starts) and Jonathan India (15 starts), representing about two-thirds of the Royals’ DH time. Perez manages 100 WRC+ in this capacity, the best of the three to date (India at 78 and Pasquantino at 42). Overall, the 35-year-old Royal Legend has slipped to .244/.287/.420 (90 WRC+), although to be fair, his ball is enough to produce .529 XSLG. India’s best defensive position was DH; he hit only .251/.332/.348 (91 WRC+) and included the Royals’ appearances in the series at second base and left field. Pasquantino generally hit .272/.329/.437 (109 WRC+), which is consistent with his recent work. Prior to this year, his WRC+ as DH was one point higher than the first baseman (115-to-114), but this year’s split was huge in the other direction.

The Royals were also counted on the edge of the battle (47-50, 11.7% odds); they already had the pitch to achieve it, but they needed the bats, especially considering that their horned outfield warriors were only 3.8 wins below the alternative level. The team did switch to Adam Frazier, who could play second base and corner kicks, so if that suggests that the royals think they are participating, the above options for rangers also apply. Another one that may be worth mentioning is Yoshida Masataka, who has only played four games since returning from the right Labrum surgery last offseason. He has reached 113 WRC+ in his first two seasons in his five-year, $90 million contract with the Red Sox, but he was pushed to profit margins due to the spillover of their crowded outfield. (His own defensive shortcomings have made him DH.) If Boston is willing to eat enough leftover contracts, he might be on the move – if not here, elsewhere.

Priest

San Diego started the season with a DH roster of Yuli Gurriel and Gavin sheets, but the former’s bats were cooked so he was released in early May. The latter has been one of the team’s most surprising surprises this season with his .265/.324/.451 (119 WRC+), and has recently earned most of the game time on the left field – contrary to his previous trends’ defensive metrics, it works well. Aside from that pair, it’s a spinning actor, Luis Arraez made 14 starts, Trenton Brooks 10, Manny Machado Nine, Luis Campusano 8, and four other players, except for five or less Gurriel.

The obvious answer to Padres’ lack of production in DH is to put Arraez here and let him do his thing. Although he hits only .279/.314/.389 (100 WRC+) overall, he has a 122 WRC+ with a DH of 65 PA. Meanwhile, in addition to his poor performance relative to other first basemen, his defense also includes DH caliber (only 658 -6 frv and -3 drs in 2/3 innings). The plan will require a trade in first baseman. O’Hearn and Naylor (AJ Preller acquired the acquisition in the 2016 deadline deal with the Marlins and spent part of the ’19 and ’20 with San Diego before being sent to Cleveland, but the latter could be more difficult to get within the department. Another option is to switch left fielders and return to regular DH duties, which include names like Andrew Benintendi, Jesús Sánchez, Mike Tauchman and Taylor Ward (warning).

red

Manager Terry Francona used the spinning cast on DH, Gavin Lux for 30 games, Austin Hays for 26, Spencer Steer and Tyler Stephenson for 16 points. No other player has more than three. Steer’s DH time all happened in the team’s first 20 games as he got a shot of cocoa on his right shoulder during spring training. While his total is only .251/.308/.406 (95 wrc+), he rose to 116 WRC+ from 42 wrc+ in March and April, with nine of his 11 home runs since May 1. Lux (Lux) since May 1. It’s also the third base. Hays is very effective when available (.287/.323/.517, 124 WRC+), but he did three separate ILs for left leg and left hamstring strains and left foot contusions. He and Lux usually share the roles of left field and DH. Stephenson started at Illinois State University (IL) due to italic pressure, and he has already stood out in the days he didn’t catch up, but hit 0.232/.313/.384 (90 WRC+).

Especially considering that the Reds are on the outfield corner and first base killer list (apparently behind him on his issue), it’s clear that they need an offense outside. A person who can adapt to the out-of-the-field merger and knock Lux into a larger share of the DH character will work. O’Hearn and Orioles outfielder Ramón Laureano are both reasonable candidates. The latter even has a $6.5 million option next season. Naylor and Ozuna will also be added to the top.

giant

If nothing else, the Rafael Devers Blockbuster hit the Giants’ DH situation and hit the full game, with his general member Wilmer Flores reaching a modest half of the first foundation step with Dominic Smith.244/.320/.376 (101 WRC+). Part of the drama before the deal with Boston included the 28-year-old Slugger refused to learn first base instantly this season, but after treatment, Devers agreed to do so, despite his workout being limited by a slight abdominal injury that was recently diagnosed with a (Gulp) lower back injury. Although Devers, who works in anti-inflammatory drugs, has been 104 WRC+ since he has reached 104 WRC+, his overall total of .255/.384/.460 (133 WRC+) will greatly improve a huge trouble point or another huge trouble point – if he is completely healthy, this suddenly is bigger than before. I don’t want them to join here, but if they can add real first basemen, Flores could be a potential DH solution for another team.

astronaut

Why there are no mystery to the Astronauts here. They use the best DH on Earth on this side of Yordan Alvarez’s Shohei Ohtani, but the 28-year-old Slugger is limited to 29 games and .210/.306/.340 (75 WRC+) Slashline. In addition to mechanical issues early in the season, he was on the injury list on May 5, initially diagnosed with a muscle strain on his right hand, but was later found to be the fourth metacarpal bone of the fracture, and inflammation on his MRI was masked. The fracture has healed, but as of early July, he was still dealing with the inflammation and received two injections. He was scheduled to reassess on Thursday, hoping he could start wielding the bat. In writing, there is no report on how to proceed, but once cleared, it may take him a week or two to speed up his recovery mission. Hand injuries are what they look like, and there is no guarantee that he will shoot on a typical clip, but resetting may help.

Meanwhile, using Jose Altuve as DH, it is best to provide Astros. As noted in the first issue on Thursday, he hits well (.277/.336/.465, 121 WRC+), but he has been brutal in both left and second base defense. Unfortunately, the Astronauts don’t have a more productive left fielder to put there, especially Mauricio Dubón’s best choice outside of second base, and Zach Dezenzo on 60-day IL due to the capsule strain on the left hand. If Alvarez can return, this is the problem that solves the problem. If not, they can at least have the flexibility to fill the slots by adding a left fielder or a second baseman.