Top 3 Free Agent Designated Hitters Still Available

Many teams like to cycle players through the DH spot to give them some rest from playing the field. But there are other teams that simply need an offensive boost, and bringing in a solid DH can help to that end.

JD Martinez and Matt Carpenter have signed deals already, but there are three DH-types still on the free agent market that can help teams, and in a couple of cases, can also fill in at another position on occasion.

Nelson Cruz

The ageless wonder actually started to show his age in 2022; now 41, Cruz had his worst season in 14 years, hitting just 10 HR with a .651 OPS—his lowest since his 2nd season in 2006.

But hey, he was an All-Star just a year before, when at age 40 he hit 32 HR and finished with an OPS+ of 129, well above average, with the Minnesota Twins and Tampa Bay Rays. He's not ready to retire just yet, and perhaps he can reach back into his "youth" of his age-40 season.

Trey Mancini

Mancini mainly split his time between OF and 1B during his first five years in the big leagues, but he's played more DH over the past couple of seasons. He sports a .265 average, 125 home runs and .787 OPS over his six years in the majors, all but the last few months with the Baltimore Orioles. He'll be entering his age-31 season, and now has a World Series ring on his resume.

Andrew McCutchen

Cutch is 36 now, and not quite the MVP talent that he was ten years ago (won it in 2013, finished Top 5 for four consecutive seasons). His ability to get on base has dropped precipitously since those days of an annual .400 on-base percentage (he was at .316 OBP with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2022). But he still has some pop in that bat, leaving the yard 44 times over the past two seasons. His OPS+ dipped just below the break-even mark, at 99, for the first time in his career.

With 14 years' experience, and a great veteran leader in the clubhouse, McCutchen would still be a nice 4th outfielder and part-time DH for a number of teams.

Photo: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports