The 2024 Replacement-Level 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 an extra perspective. Typically that will counsel that the workforce will clear the bar by a major margin, besides, I’ve included them right here as a result of the workforce’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 to date — which prorates to 1.0 WAR over a full season — as my cutoff, however for the designated hitters, I’ve restricted the record 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 to date, 4 are within the center floor between 0.0 and 1.0, eight are between 1.0 and a couple of.0, and three are above 2.0. DHs as a bunch 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 record, through a slash line that’s just about equivalent (the majors’ slugging share as an entire 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 achieve 400 PA as DHs, in comparison with eight final yr. That stated, lots of the groups on this record 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 Prime 100 record, with Twelfth-ranked Evan Carter — who did stellar work late final yr for the Rangers — in left area, and second-ranked Wyatt Langford at DH. The latter, who was chosen because the fourth choose in final yr’s draft, has the velocity for middle area however “his really feel for the place (and for enjoying outfield protection basically) could be very poor,” wrote Eric Longenhagen in his analysis. The obvious plan was for Langford to DH towards righties and play left area (the place he had 28 video games of expertise final yr) towards lefties whereas the lefty-swinging Carter sat, with a rotating solid of gamers filling the DH slot.

It hasn’t gone nice, to say the least. Carter has struggled and has been on the injured record since late Could on account of a stress response in his decrease again, whereas Langford — who himself missed three weeks in Could with a hamstring pressure — has performed 49 video games in left area (with 4 DRS!) and simply 23 at DH. He’s hit simply .254/.318/.384 (94 wRC+) total, 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 excellent; his woes primarily appear to be the rising pains of a 22-year-old rookie. Adolis García, whose poor play total this season landed him on the fitting area Killers record, 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 function. 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 may in concept 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 much more time at DH than another Cleveland participant. The 23-year-old Manzardo, who missed our Prime 100 record, was despatched to Triple-A Columbus regardless of a robust spring, so Naylor has taken simply 30 plate appearances right here. As a substitute, José Ramírez leads the workforce with 97 PA as a DH, although he’s produced only a 39 wRC+ in that function. Manzardo lastly received a glance when Steven Kwan went down with a hamstring pressure in early Could, however hit simply .207/.241/.329 (60 wRC+) in 87 PA total (76 as a DH) earlier than being shuttled again to Columbus. Although he had extra doubles (10) than singles (7), his total contact was underwhelming (.316 xSLG), and he struck out 26.9% of the time.

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

Purple Sox

After enjoying 88 video games final yr in left area, 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 obtainable, 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 price 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 price, and 37.2% hard-hit price are all a few notches beneath final yr’s marks, and his xSLG has dropped from .425 to .358.

Whereas it’s truthful to surprise if David Ortiz may 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 2027 and who aren’t precisely awash in productive hitters; as it’s, they’ve received a Killer at first base in Dominic Smith whereas Triston Casas recovers from a fractured rib. Although it could 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 possibility who may spot within the outfield when the workforce needs to rotate different gamers by the place. A reunion with Justin Turner, who fared a lot better in Boston than he has in Toronto, additionally makes some sense, notably if the Blue Jays are keen to eat a few of his remaining wage.

If the Purple Sox wished to get extra aggressive, Rooker, who may 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 to commerce Yoshida for the Giants’ Jorge Soler, who’s within the first yr of a three-year, $42 million deal and who’s scuffled to date (102 wRC+, 0.2 WAR) for a workforce 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’ lower as contenders — earlier than being optioned to Omaha. Since then, the Royals have gone with a combination that features Michael Massey, Vinnie Pasquantino, and Salvador Perez, the final of whom has performed first base when Pasquantino has DHed, the web impact of which has been extra reps for Freddy Fermin behind the plate.

It’s labored out fairly properly to date. Perez (124 wRC+ total), Fermin (109 wRC+), Massey (105 wRC+), and Pasquantino (99 wRC+) have all been far more productive hitters than Velázquez basically, and the trio has mixed for a 137 wRC+ within the DH spot throughout 73 PA since Velázquez was despatched down. It might be useful if Pasquantino may get better the shape that made him such a pleasing 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 usually; his BABIP is simply .252, down from that season’s .306. Given the Royals’ want for a nook outfield bat or two, maybe they may add some assist right here, but when not, they’re already in higher form than a few of the different groups right here simply primarily based on their changes to date.

Cardinals

The Matt Carpenter revival was loads 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 occasions at DH to go together 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 workforce is protected against his poor protection (-6 DRS, -5.7 UZR, -5 FRV in simply 376.2 whole 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+ total.

That trio doesn’t actually match collectively properly, although the pending return of Tommy Edman from post-surgical discomfort in his proper wrist may 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 smart to get as a lot out of Contreras because the Cardinals fairly can (his catching metrics are superb), however light-hitting backup Pedro Pagés’ 70 wRC+ doesn’t precisely make it a good 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 the primary 10 weeks of this season, the Rays designated him for task and ate the rest of his $3.8 million wage. Since then, supervisor Kevin Money has rotated different gamers by the spot; up to now seven Rays have acquired 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 may be Lowe, whose 5 homers within the function are greater than all people else (Ramírez included) put collectively.

Barring a robust begin to the second half, the Rays usually tend to be sellers than patrons, and can hearken to gives on the aforementioned gamers with a watch towards getting youthful and saving cash. They could properly have the answer to a different workforce’s downside, right here or at a number of different positions.