Previewing The 2024-25 Free Agent Class: Designated Hitter

MLBTR continues its position-by-position take a look at the upcoming free agent class. Earlier than we transfer on to the pitching, we’ll wrap up the offensive group by trying on the designated hitters. Each place participant technically might play DH, in fact, however the overwhelming majority of the category has been lined in one in all our prior positional previews. We’ll restrict this look to gamers who’re both DH-only or have taken at the very least 150 plate appearances on the place this 12 months.

Participant ages, listed in parenthesis, are for the 2025 season. Stats are by way of play on September 25. Solely gamers who’ve appeared within the majors this 12 months are included.

Different Entries: Catcher | First Base | Second Base | Shortstop | Third Base | Center Field | Corner Outfield

Regulars

Bell had a tough first few months, hitting .239/.305/.394 in 104 video games with the Marlins. He has discovered his stride after a deadline commerce to Arizona, the place he carries a .281/.363/.439 slash with 5 homers by way of 161 journeys to the plate. The mixture manufacturing remains to be middling — a league common .250/.320/.406 line with very poor defensive grades — however Bell is ending the season on a excessive notice. He has been a streaky hitter all through his profession who can hit within the center third of a lineup when he’s at his greatest.

Martinez lingered in free company earlier than signing a closely deferred $12MM contract with the Mets. Martinez had a usually robust first half, carrying a .263/.349/.457 line into the All-Star Break. His bat has completely cratered down the stretch, particularly this month. Martinez is hitting .194/.276/.339 within the second half — together with a staggering .068/.180/.091 line in September. The general slash line is alright — .234/.318/.407 with 16 homers throughout 482 plate appearances — however the end to the season is a purple flag.

McCutchen has hit 20 homers with a barely above-average .236/.333/.418 line throughout 507 plate appearances. That’s not enormous manufacturing out of a DH, however McCutchen has nonetheless been one of many higher performers in a light-weight Pittsburgh lineup. He’s a franchise icon who has made clear he needs to complete his profession within the Metal Metropolis. McCutchen plans to play once more subsequent season and it looks like solely a matter of time earlier than he and the Bucs hammer out a brand new deal — most likely for one thing near this 12 months’s $5MM wage.

The D-Backs signed Pederson to a $12.5MM deal final winter. That’s a hefty funding in a DH-only participant who nearly by no means faces lefty pitching. But the Snakes definitely haven’t any regrets. They introduced in Pederson to mash in opposition to right-handed pitching and he has greater than held up his finish of the discount. He’s hitting .284/.394/.538 with 22 homers by way of 401 plate appearances versus righties. Pederson will most likely decline his finish of a $14MM mutual choice in favor of a $3MM buyout. He’s a candidate for a multi-year deal.

Turner is primarily a DH however can rotate by way of the nook infield spots. He had a reasonably modest .256/.350/.372 exhibiting over 91 video games with Toronto. It appeared as if he may be slowing down at age 39, however he has discovered one other gear since being traded on the deadline. Turner owns a .263/.360/.397 slash with 5 dwelling runs in 46 video games with Seattle — spectacular output in a house park that has stymied a number of the M’s offensive acquisitions. By measure of wRC+, Turner has been 15 share factors above league common on the plate. That’s barely higher than final 12 months’s .276/.345/.455 exhibiting with the Purple Sox. Turner acquired $13MM final offseason and nonetheless hasn’t dropped off.

Winker hit .257/.374/.419 over 379 plate appearances for the Nationals after signing a minor league deal. Washington flipped him to the Mets, the place his manufacturing has tailed off (.248/.317/.372 in 46 video games). Winker is a below-average defensive left fielder who doesn’t do a lot in opposition to lefty pitching. It’s a restricted profile as a platoon nook/DH bat, however he’s hitting .260/.366/.425 in opposition to righties this season and has a wonderful observe document in opposition to right-handers.

Depth

Carpenter has performed a veteran mentor position in his return to the Cardinals. He has made 56 appearances and turned in a .238/.322/.385 slash throughout 150 journeys to the plate. Groups aren’t going to view Carpenter as a major designated hitter, however he might discover curiosity in a bench position. He informed Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Put up-Dispatch this week that he hopes to proceed enjoying.

Vogelbach, who was a league common hitter for the Mets final season, appeared in 31 video games for the Blue Jays early this 12 months. He hit .186/.278/.300 and was launched in June. He’s a minor league deal candidate.

Membership Choices

Ozuna’s four-year free agent take care of the Braves got here with a $16MM membership choice or a $1M buyout. Ozuna has had a monster 12 months, carrying an Atlanta lineup that has usually floundered round him. He’s one homer away from attending to 40 for a second straight 12 months. Ozuna has a .310/.384/.561 slash throughout 667 plate appearances. Carrying Ozuna and Jorge Soler on the identical roster for a full season isn’t splendid, however that’s one thing the Braves can kind out after making the straightforward name to train the choice.

If Ozuna’s choice is a lock to be exercised, Jiménez’s is simply as simple a call in the wrong way. The Orioles will purchase this out for $1.5MM in lieu of a $16.5MM wage. Jiménez will acquire a $3MM buyout general; the White Sox are additionally on the hook for $1.5MM as a part of the deadline deal that despatched him to Baltimore. Jiménez appeared like a burgeoning slugger early in his profession. Accidents have set him again and his manufacturing has tanked this 12 months. He’s hitting .238/.289/.336 throughout 349 plate appearances. Baltimore optioned him to Triple-A on Tuesday.

The Orioles maintain an $8MM choice for subsequent season. O’Hearn’s robust first half made that appear to be a transparent cut price. The left-handed hitter went into the All-Star Break with a .274/.335/.456 line with practically as many walks as strikeouts. His plate self-discipline remains to be robust however his energy has dissipated within the second half. He solely has two homers with a .240/.327/.351 line because the Break. Baltimore ought to have a number of payroll flexibility and will guess on O’Hearn to bounce again, however that is extra of a borderline name than it appeared six weeks in the past.