Reese Kaplan -- So Who Would Be the New Mets DH If Needed?

One of the primary issues during this owner/player lockout is the prospect of the designated hitter becoming a part of the National League lineup as well.  Whether you are for the DH or against it, the fact is that if the DH becomes a new weapon for the Mets and the rest of their NL competitors, the question becomes who would be the best to serve the role?

The first way to examine this conundrum is to think about who is already a part of the team and whether or not one of those individuals will contribute enough with the bat to represent the team well as its new DH.  There are a number of candidates who might be better off with a bat in his hands than attempting to field a position effectively.

While others might come to mind first, one of Brodie Van Wagenen's early acquisitions was slugger J.D. Davis.  The man had not done much at the Major League level for the Astros, but his minor league numbers were indeed appealing.  Over roughly the equivalent of four full seasons before ascending to The Show he was good for an average of 27 HRs and 100 RBIs per season.  He maintained a .292 average while fanning a bit too much, but those numbers are hard to ignore.  

For the Mets he has had his ups and downs with about 20 HRs and 60 RBIs per full season worth of ABs.  If he's healed from his injuries and there isn't much offered in return for him in trades, he's an inexpensive bit of right handed punch that might value from only having to swing the bat.

To many folks the answer to the DH slot should be Dom Smith.  Although he's improved significantly in the outfield where you don't get the Todd Hundley shudders every time a ball is hit in his direction, the fact is that he is a well above average first baseman but is blocked by star Pete Alonso.  Consequently, trying to get Smith into the lineup means swallowing hard at the defensive challenge in the outfield or testing him out at DH.  

Offensively, he also has had his hot and cold intervals for the Mets, but overall he averages 23 HRs and 81 RBIs but hitting just .252.  Some think the club might wiser to let him play 1B and moving Pete Alonso to DH, but you usually don't do that to someone who is your offensive star and who takes pride in his efforts to field the position.  Smith is your lefty power hitting option.

The third obvious candidate for this role would be more about a contractual obligation and concern about decreased range by shifting Robinson Cano from 2B to DH.  While no one can really predict what to expect out of Cano without PEDs, you can't deny his career output.  As recently as 2020 he hit .316 and was on his way to a 30 HR season, but then he was found to be using steroids again which caused him to miss the entire 2021 season.  

In an average season he's good for a .303 AVG with 24 HRs and 94 RBIs.  He's another left handed option but there is concern about how productive he would be while having been nabbed twice already for banned substances.  

There are many other players who could theoretically insert into the DH role, but none jump out at you as having the best fit.  The club could turn to look at players in the free agent marketplace who have run producing ability but who are not particularly adept defensively.  

A good example would be Kyle Schwarber, the ex-Cub, National and Red Sox player was good for pretty impressive power.  The big lefty averages 37 HRs per 162 game season, but batting average has always been an issue in addition to fielding.  He is a career .237 hitter and the club would have to decide if they want to pay first class salary dollars for Dave Kingman style production.  

There is one former Met (at the minor league level) who averages 39 HRs and 107 RBIs per season who is on the free agent marketplace.  Nelson Cruz may be 41 years of age but he still appears to be slugging at a prodigious level.  The big right handed hitter is a career .277 hitter and came close again last year with .265.  He would command significant money but likely not as much as a younger player would get and the duration of the deal would likely be pretty short.  

So who do you think should be the Mets first designated hitter?