Report: Designated Hitter Should Be Coming To NL Parks in 2022

The labor talks between MLB and the MLBPA haven't led to much agreement to this point, but one thing does appear to have both sides on board, as MLB Network's Jon Heyman reports:

Barring something totally unexpected, it can be assumed at this point that the universal DH will be in place in 2022. Both sides are in favor (though true to these talks, they don’t seem to totally agree on who benefits most from a DH on all 30 teams)

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 2, 2022

"Barring something totally unexpected," says Heyman, "it can be assumed at this point that the universal DH will be in place in 2022. Both sides are in favor."

But, as Heyman notes, even something each side agrees on is still not without controversy, as they apparently can't "seem to totally agree on who benefits most" from the universal DH.

Who Benefits Most from Universal DH?

For the owners, it should bring a much-needed offensive punch to the NL, which is good for business; for the players, it provides more jobs. 

One thing is certain: 15 extra players, somewhere, will be thrilled to have an extra spot to ply their hitting trade in the National League.

Players like JD Davis and Dominic Smith of the New York Mets, who normally have loud bats, won't have to worry about finding a position to play (which has been a challenge for each of them on the Mets, for varying reasons). In fact, at least one of them, as we reported last week, can expect to be traded, despite the likely presence of the DH.

Photo Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports