MLB Rumors: Projected DH For NL East Teams

 It'll be a whole new ballgame for National League teams this season (if they ever get to play baseball), as the universal DH has arrived. For the first time in history, all NL teams will get to use a designated hitter for the pitcher's spot starting in 2022. That will mean some new roles for players all over the league. 

Who will occupy the DH for teams in the NL East. Let's discuss.

Atlanta Braves: Marcell Ozuna

At this point, according to manager Brian Snitker at least, it seems that Ozuna is going to be welcomed back to the Braves lineup after missing most of last season due to a domestic violence incident. And while Ozuna can hit, playing the outfield is not his strongsuit. If he does return, DH is a likely spot. 

At the same time, it's still up in the air if the Braves will try to bring back World Series MVP Jorge Soler. He, too, would make for a good fit at DH. 

Miami Marlins: Garrett Cooper / Brian Anderson

With the addition of Joey Wendle from the Tampa Bay Rays, Anderson will lose a lot of time at the hot corner, but the DH may allow him to secure some at-bats. However, the mammoth Cooper (6'5", 235 lbs) can mash, and he posted an .845 OPS in his 71 games last season. 

New York Mets: Robinson Cano / Dom Smith / JD Davis / Jeff McNeil

A trade is in the offing for one or more of the players in this group. All of them are facing a real squeeze on their playing time. Cano is a second baseman by trade, but McNeil and newly-signed Eduardo Escobar are also second baseman. The same applies at 3B for Davis, whose defense there is sub-par, and McNeil and Escobar can play there as well. 

Smith has some thunder in his bat, but his playing time at 1B and OF will be very limited, with Pete Alonso at first, and Starling Marte and Mark Canha joining Brandon Nimmo as the regular starters in the outfield. 

Philadelphia Phillies: TBA / Matt Vierling

Vierling is currently listed as the Phillies' DH, but he has all of 71 at-bats in the majors. He's also listed as the backup at all three OF spots. Safe to say, the Phillies will be adding some players to this mix when business resumes. 

And that brings us to the "TBA" portion of the Phillies DH situation: Free agent Kyle Schwarber would be a tremendous fit playing in the hitters' bandbox of Citizens Bank Park. Nick Castellanos is another possibility. 

Washington Nationals: Yadiel Hernandez / Maikel Franco

Hernandez, the 34-year-old Cuban ,got 264 at-bats for the Nationals in 2021, and produced a middling OPS of .742.  Franco had a down season in Baltimore, and was signed this winter to a minor league contract. It's quite possible the Nats may look to bring in some reinforcements here. 

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