The 2024 Substitute-Stage Killers: Designated Hitter

Eventually we attain the tip of my annual collection spotlighting the weakest positions on contenders. Whereas nonetheless focusing upon groups that meet that free definition of contenders (Playoff Odds of at the very least 9.5%), I’ve additionally included our Depth Charts’ rest-of-season WAR projections into the equation for a further perspective. Generally which will recommend that the crew will clear the bar by a major margin, besides, I’ve included them right here as a result of the crew’s efficiency at that spot is price 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 overall unfold of worth. Within the third full season of the common DH, precisely half the groups within the majors have really gotten 0.0 WAR or much less from their DHs so far, 4 are within the center floor between 0.0 and 1.0, eight are between 1.0 and a pair of.0, and three are above 2.0. DHs as a gaggle have hit .245/.321/.421 for a 109 wRC+; that final determine is up three factors from final yr, and 7 factors from the final time I did this checklist, by way of a slash line that’s just about an identical (the majors’ slugging share as a complete has dropped 17 factors from final season).

This yr, we’re seeing a higher variety of groups make investments extra enjoying time in a single DH. Whereas every of the previous two seasons noticed three gamers attain the five hundred plate look threshold as DHs, this yr we’re on tempo for 5; equally, 11 participant are on tempo to succeed in 400 PA as DHs, in comparison with eight final yr. That stated, lots 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

On the outset of the season, the defending champions’ lineup featured two of the highest 12 prospects from our High 100 checklist, with Twelfth-ranked Evan Carter — who did stellar work late final yr for the Rangers — in left subject, and second-ranked Wyatt Langford at DH. The latter, who was chosen because the fourth choose in final yr’s draft, has the pace for middle subject however “his really feel for the place (and for taking part in outfield protection typically) could be very poor,” wrote Eric Longenhagen in his analysis. The obvious plan was for Langford to DH towards righties and play left subject (the place he had 28 video games of expertise final yr) towards lefties whereas the lefty-swinging Carter sat, with a rotating forged of gamers filling the DH slot.

It hasn’t gone nice, to say the least. Carter has struggled and has been on the injured checklist since late Might on account of a stress response in his decrease again, whereas Langford — who himself missed three weeks in Might with a hamstring pressure — has performed 49 video games in left subject (with 4 DRS!) and simply 23 at DH. He’s hit simply .254/.318/.384 (94 wRC+) general, producing an 83 wRC+ in 97 plate appearances as a DH. His high quality of contact is middling, and he’s struggled towards sliders, although his plate self-discipline has been superb; his woes primarily seem like the rising pains of a 22-year-old rookie. Adolis García, whose poor play general this season landed him on the proper subject Killers checklist, has managed only a 58 wRC+ in 65 PA as a DH, with lefty Travis Jankowski (61 PA, 8 wRC+), and switch-hitter Robbie Grossman (55 PA, 80 wRC+) the opposite gamers with double-digit appearances — and little success — within the position. With the Rangers (46-50) at greatest on the fringes of the Wild Card race, a transfer right here is unlikely; the hope is that Carter returns close to the tip of this month, which might in principle give Langford extra time to settle in at DH.

Guardians

For our Positional Energy Rankings, we projected Kyle Manzardo to get the plurality of the Guardians’ reps at first base, with Josh Naylor getting way more time at DH than another Cleveland participant. The 23-year-old Manzardo, who missed our High 100 checklist, was despatched to Triple-A Columbus regardless of a powerful spring, so Naylor has taken simply 30 plate appearances right here. As an alternative, José Ramírez leads the crew with 97 PA as a DH, although he’s produced only a 39 wRC+ in that position. Manzardo lastly acquired a glance when Steven Kwan went down with a hamstring pressure in early Might, however hit simply .207/.241/.329 (60 wRC+) in 87 PA general (76 as a DH) earlier than being shuttled again to Columbus. Although he had extra doubles (10) than singles (7), his general contact was underwhelming (.316 xSLG), and he struck out 26.9% of the time.

The Guardians made the Killers lists at shortstop, middle subject, and proper subject. They will strive utilizing prospects to cowl on the two up-the-middle positions, however until they need to plant David Fry in proper subject or right here, or give Manzardo one other look, they’ll want outdoors assist to enhance. A bopper akin to Brent Rooker of the A’s might contribute each in proper and at DH.

Purple Sox

After enjoying 88 video games final yr in left subject, albeit with dreadful metrics (a few of which can owe to the complexities of the Inexperienced Monster), Masataka Yoshida has been restricted to a single defensive inning this yr. He additionally missed six weeks on account of a left thumb sprain, however when out there, he’s hit a meager .260/.326/.370 (95 wRC+), and the place he produced a 102 wRC+ in 144 plate appearances towards lefties final yr, he’s crashed to a 27 wRC+ in 46 PA towards them this yr. Although he’s trimmed his groundball fee about 9 factors from final yr’s 54.6%, his high quality of contact has taken a step again; his 87.4 mph common exit velo, 4.8% barrel fee, and 37.2% hard-hit fee are all a few notches beneath final yr’s marks, and his xSLG has dropped from .425 to .358.

Whereas it’s honest to surprise if David Ortiz might come out of retirement and hit the ball more durable than Yoshida, issues aren’t that straightforward for the Purple Sox, who’re paying Yoshida $18 million yearly by way of 2027 and who aren’t precisely awash in productive hitters; as it’s, they’ve acquired a Killer at first base in Dominic Smith whereas Triston Casas recovers from a fractured rib. Although it will make sense to platoon Yoshida with righty Rob Refsnyder, that leaves proper fielder Wilyer Abreu equally uncovered to lefties. The White Sox’s Tommy Pham, a rental, would work as a platoon choice who might spot within the outfield when the crew needs to rotate different gamers by way of the place. A reunion with Justin Turner, who fared a lot better in Boston than he has in Toronto, additionally makes some sense, significantly if the Blue Jays are keen to eat a few of his remaining wage.

If the Purple Sox needed to get extra aggressive, Rooker, who might fill the DH job full-time, could be a major improve, however with three extra seasons of membership management, he gained’t come low cost. An alternative choice could be an try and commerce Yoshida for the Giants’ Jorge Soler, who’s within the first yr of a three-year, $42 million deal and who’s scuffled so far (102 wRC+, 0.2 WAR) for a crew that’s 47-50 with 24.6% Playoff Odds.

Royals

From the beginning of the season till late June, the Royals gave Nelson Velázquez 151 plate appearances at DH and one other 79 on the outfield corners, however he hit simply .200/.274/.366 (76 wRC+) with -0.3 WAR — the bottom for a DH from any of the 20 groups that made this collection’ reduce as contenders — earlier than being optioned to Omaha. Since then, the Royals have gone with a mixture that features Michael Massey, Vinnie Pasquantino, and Salvador Perez, the final of whom has performed first base when Pasquantino has DHed, the online impact of which has been extra reps for Freddy Fermin behind the plate.

It’s labored out fairly effectively up to now. Perez (124 wRC+ general), Fermin (109 wRC+), Massey (105 wRC+), and Pasquantino (99 wRC+) have all been rather more productive hitters than Velázquez typically, and the trio has mixed for a 137 wRC+ within the DH spot throughout 73 PA since Velázquez was despatched down. It could be useful if Pasquantino might get better the shape that made him such a nice shock as a rookie in 2022. He’s hitting the ball solely a bit much less arduous than he did that yr, however is popping up about twice as typically; his BABIP is simply .252, down from that season’s .306. Given the Royals’ want for a nook outfield bat or two, maybe they might add some assist right here, but when not, they’re already in higher form than among the different groups right here simply based mostly on their changes up to now.

Cardinals

The Matt Carpenter revival was a number of enjoyable when it performed Broadway (or really the Bronx) in 2022, however in his second go-round with the Cardinals, the 38-year-old lefty is hitting simply .248/.319/.347 (93 wRC+) in 114 plate appearances and has made a team-high 27 begins at DH, all towards righties. Solely two different Cardinals have gotten greater than 10 begins on the place, lefty Alec Burleson and righty Willson Contreras. Burleson has began 26 instances at DH to go along with his 55 within the outfield corners and eight at first base, hitting a scorching .288/.320/.494 (128 wRC+); any time he’s DHing, the crew is protected against his poor protection (-6 DRS, -5.7 UZR, -5 FRV in simply 376.2 complete innings within the outfield). Contreras, who returned from a seven-week absence on account of a fractured left forearm on June 24, has hit .271/.403/.514 for a team-high 161 wRC+ general.

That trio doesn’t actually match collectively effectively, although the pending return of Tommy Edman from post-surgical discomfort in his proper wrist might put him into an outfield combine with Brendan Donovan, Michael Siani, and Lars Nootbaar, permitting Burleson to park at DH with minimal time afield. It does is sensible to get as a lot out of Contreras because the Cardinals moderately can (his catching metrics are advantageous), however light-hitting backup Pedro Pagés’ 70 wRC+ doesn’t precisely make it an excellent tradeoff when the starter fills the DH spot. The higher hitting backstop, Iván Herrera, and his 107 wRC+ (and wobbly protection) are again at Triple-A, however the Cardinals wouldn’t be the Cardinals in the event that they made it really easy.

Rays

Harold Ramírez set profession highs in residence runs (12), wRC+ (128), and WAR (1.5) final yr whereas serving because the Rays’ main DH, with spot responsibility on the outfield corners, however when he hit simply .268/.284/.305 (71 wRC+) in the same capability by way of the primary 10 weeks of this season, the Rays designated him for project and ate the rest of his $3.8 million wage. Since then, supervisor Kevin Money has rotated different gamers by way of the spot; thus far seven Rays have obtained between 20 and 54 plate appearances as a DH, together with regulars Randy Arozarena, Yandy Díaz, Brandon Lowe, and Isaac Paredes. The one one to make a lot affect there’s Lowe, whose 5 homers within the position are greater than everyone else (Ramírez included) put collectively.

Barring a powerful begin to the second half, the Rays usually tend to be sellers than patrons, and can take heed to affords on the aforementioned gamers with a watch towards getting youthful and saving cash. They could effectively have the answer to a different crew’s downside, right here or at a number of different positions.