2020 could be the last season of old school baseball as Major League Baseball is considering expanding the designated hitter rule to both leagues.
There is a growing belief amongst NL GM’s that the DH will be instituted for NL as early as 2021. FWIW.
— Jim Bowden??? (@JimBowdenGM) January 27, 2020
The DH has been specific to the American League since 1973 and is used in interleague play, the World Series and the All-Star game when the AL is the home team.
How does this help the New York Mets? Greatly, which is why many Met fans will put their baseball purist cards in their back pockets and sit back and enjoy the show.
The Mets have a slew of players who are much better hitters than they are fielders and have quite a number of solid hitters who play the same position.
If the DH comes to the NL, the immediate relief the Mets will get will be with 38 year-old second baseman Robinson Cano. Cano’s range in the field is narrowing but his bat still has some pop. The Mets could solve their Jeff McNeil problem with this new rule by making him their everyday second baseman and batting Cano, who is under contract though 2023, at DH most games. It would also open op a spot in the outfield and at third base, possibly giving J.D. Davis some more at bats.
The DH role could also be used in the case of Dominic Smith and Pete Alonso at first base. Since Alonso’s break out last year, Smith has been forced to play the outfield and serve as a pinch hitter.
Danny Abriano of SNY.tv believes the DH will benefit Ronny Mauricio, a prized shortstop in the Mets’ farm system that will be ready for the majors in 2022. With Amed Rosario still under team control, having the DH could push one of them to play another position or to DH so the club can gain an advantage from having both players in the lineup.