Dodgers: Five options if MLB institutes universal designated hitter

As Major League Baseball considers instituting a universal designated hitter for the 2020 season, let’s explore some options for the Dodgers.

Everything seems to be on the table as Major League Baseball owners, players and league officials plan for a potential 2020 season to be played in the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic.

MLB is expected to present a proposal to the leaders of all 30 teams and the players this week that would outline a tentative framework to play a 78- or 82-game schedule beginning in early July with competition between teams limited to geographic regions.

As part of that proposal, MLB will suggest a universal designated hitter for the 2020 season, which is expected to be easily approved.

Lucky for the Dodgers, they are better positioned than many National League clubs to account for an extra bat in their lineup. As one of the deepest benches in baseball, they should have no problem finding someone to fill in for the pitcher’s spot. The more difficult challenge might be deciding who gets the majority of at-bats at DH.

Traditionalists can scoff at the idea of the designated hitter coming to the Senior Circuit, and they would probably be right to worry that once MLB decides to try it out, it might never go away. But there’s no better opportunity to test it out than over a crazy, shortened season that 2020 will have to represent if games are to be played.

As a universal DH seems like a real possibility, let’s review the best options for the Dodgers, starting with the players who would be suited to gain a majority of their at-bats in the new role.