Dodgers: Realignment could mean DH to National League

With the Coronavirus pandemic continuing to wreak havoc around the world and Major League Baseball continuing to scramble to get a season in the books, the Los Angeles Dodgers could feature a full-time DH in 2020.

By now, we’ve all seen the drastic realignment proposal that is floating around, the one which splits MLB into Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues instead of their typical American League and National League (Dodgers included) equivalents. Logistically it makes the most sense, allowing teams to focus their travel only between a small area of teams based on their spring training facility locations. This helps to ensure people stay healthy and contains any threat of the virus.

Of course, it also means that we now have typical American League and National League teams grouped together in one division. The Los Angeles Dodgers, under this proposal, will now be forced into division rivalries with the cross-town Angels, the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, and Cincinnati Reds.

But there is one repercussion of placing typical AL and NL teams together in one division or league. The National League has fought it for years and baseball purists say that it would be blasphemy. However, the realignment plan in baseball could mean one huge change for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Senior Circuit.

That’s right folks, the Designated Hitter is coming to the National League.

The construction of teams and the potential for extra roster spots makes the implementation of a universal designated hitter almost a must under this proposal. With pitchers potentially being asked to throw on shorter rest, the league is going to want to limit the opportunity for injury, and adding the DH helps in that battle. Additionally, it gives the league the chance to speed up games by limiting substitutions.

So how does that impact the Los Angeles Dodgers?

Well, the Dodgers aren’t exactly a team built to take advantage of the DH. In 2019, the team was forced to use the designated hitter in eight games and cycled five different players into the spot. Only two players, David Freese (now retired) and Matt Beaty saw multiple appearances as a DH. Likewise, the results were not overly encouraging either. In 29 at-bats, Dodgers DHs managed just six hits (.207 BA), 3 RBI, 2 runs scored, and 9 strikeouts.

In all reality, the Dodgers will likely use a rotation platoon of players in the DH spot. The odd man out in the left-field pairing of AJ Pollock and Joc Pederson seems to be a likely match, but given that their rotation will likely be based on platoon splits, it is unlikely that both would be in the line-up on a given day. Likewise, Matt Beaty sees the same potential issues with a lefty on the mound, given his .125/.176/.156 slash against same-handed pitching in 2019. The Dodgers will also have super-utility players in Enrique Hernandez and Chris Taylor that could take a few turns to get at-bats.

The Dodgers could also go a bit radical in their choice as well. Prospect DJ Peters is known for swinging a big bat and at 6’6″, 225lbs, he has the build of a prototypical DH. However, while he has the power the position would covet, Peters also comes with a penchant for strikeouts and hasn’t been exposed to Major League pitching yet. It may be a good way to give him a look, and wouldn’t cost any 40-man roster moves, but he may need some seasoning at Triple-A before he’s ready to make the jump.

Of course, there is the likelihood that this is just a one-year worry, with the hopes that things will return to normal for the 2021 season. As such, the Dodgers can simply make things work with the bats they have available at the MLB level, plugging and playing according to match-ups. Regardless, it will make for an interesting change to the everyday line-up card and one that may bear watching as Major League Baseball uses this condensed season to push forth other agendas.