Reese Kaplan -- Please Prove DH Is Not "Doesn't Hit"

The Designated Hitter (DH) being embraced by the National League in 2022 after the brief safety implementation to try to minimize the number of escalation opportunities during the COVID outbreak.  The thought was that the DH would add a middle of the order bat to the lineup by using either a poor fielding player who hurts the team more on the field than he benefits it with is bat or it could be an older player who doesn’t need the physical strain of stretching, running and throwing that playing defense requires. 

So far both before and during the Stearns era in charge the Mets have not yet fully exploited this position to help produce a significantly increased number of runs.  We won’t rehash all of the failed attempts at using the DH effectively.  Instead, let’s take a look at who might be in that lineup position for the 2027 Mets.

There appear to be a quartet of in-house options to consider as the 2027 DH for the Mets.  Only one of them is clearly patterned after the intended role for a defensively challenged ballplayer who can focus instead on the offensive side of his game.

What would it take to persuade the $765 million man Juan Soto that in his pre-30 playing time he’s ideal to be a DH?  Without even getting into his limited defensive game, let’s instead focus on offense.  He hits for power.  He dries in runs. He steals bases.  He’s capable against both right handed and left handed hitting.  He hits for a respectable batting average.  What’s not to love here?

The second best option the Mets must pay for 2027 is the long term injured and ineffective free agent acquisition Jorge Polanco.  He’s a little bit older but it’s not his age that would dictate him taking over this role.  Look at his injury history prior to becoming a Met and then here in 2026.  Allowing him simply to hit and run without playing the field would give him time to heal properly without the stress of donning a glove and playing the field.

If he’s still around Mark Vientos based upon his 2024 rookie season would also be an ideal DH.  His defensive game is best not discussed at all.  That year he hit 27 HRs and drove in 71 while getting 413 ABs.  Unfortunately it has thus far appeared to be a non-replicable outlier.  Since then the batting average has fallen and the HRs are the only aspect of his game with any positive output.  He is not consistent enough there to suggest he would flourish in this role.

Of course any offensive player could become a DH but here are the actual DH options listed as  free agents:

• Randy Arozarena
• Teoscar Hernández 
• Max Muncy
• Shohei Ohtani
• Joc Pederson:
• Anthony Rendon
• George Springer
• Seiya Suzuki

Then there are minor leaguers who could be unlikely possibilities since it’s unusual to have someone graduate to the majors and then thrust into the DH role.  If Ryan Clifford could hit consistently he would be one of them.  Newcomer Billy Amick would be another. 

There are always trades...