The New York Yankees are STACKED at the DH position. Pretty much everyone on the team can be the starting DH for the entirety of the 2020 season. So let’s see who makes the most sense:
Giancarlo Stanton AKA The OBVIOUS Choice
People underestimate the fact that Stanton is a competent outfielder. Is he Mike Trout defensively? No. But he’s just above league average as an outfielder, and we know what he’s capable of as a hitter. As a left fielder, he’s weaker looking at the defensive metrics. But he’s still a better defender in left field than Miguel Andujar is (currently) at third.
Stanton’s biggest bugaboo is his health and his strikeouts. When you look at Stanton’s career, he has exceptional seasons after a bad, injury prone season. So while it makes sense for him to be the DH, I force him being the left fielder more regularly.
Miguel Andujar AKA The SMART Choice
You can’t call Andujar a bad hitter. Andujar’s oWAR is 4.6 compared to the 2.2 WAR he posted in 2018. 97 strikeouts, 170 hits, 47 doubles, 92 RBI’s, 25 walks, and he hit into only 9 double plays. Someone who can sub in the field, will undoubtedly learn a new position to help create greater fielding depth for the team as a whole. Plus, he’d help balance out just how much our core of the lineup will ultimately strike out over the course of next season.
The Machine
DJ LeMahieu would be a fabulous DH on more occasions than one. The DH is a point of free offense in the lineup. Why wouldn’t you want a dude with a career .302 batting average be your everyday DH? He gets hits, and he sprays his hits all over the place. With his average of 30 doubles a season, he’d make an excellent DH.
Our First Basemen
Luke Voit and Mike Ford are possibly more prototypical DH’s. They’re bulky, they drive the ball, and most DH’s are relegated to playing first base when playing interleauge games.
So, there you have it. There are 5 more than capable men on the team who can be our regular DH. And that’s not even all the players we have who could be DH’s.