Designated Hitter not expected to stick in National League for 2021

Leave it to Major League Baseball to take away the one rule change that everyone enjoyed in the 2020 season.

The MLB Hot Stove season has been a bit slower in 2020 than in year’s past. While that can be attributed to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, it’s also because the league and the MLB Player’s Association are negotiating the format of the upcoming 2021 season. One of the main holdups is the question of whether the designated hitter position will be universal for the second consecutive campaign. It appears we now have a hint on what the answer might be.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the league has informed all 30 teams that they should “proceed under the assumption the DH will not be used in the NL this year.”

DH not necessarily off the table

This is far from a definitive statement, but it’s more of the league giving advanced notice to the clubs to proceed as scheduled. As Rosenthal notes, “few will complain if the league and union reach agreement to the contrary.”

The league and the player’s union agreed to outside the norm rulings and format to conduct a season in 2020, albeit a truncated one. Those included the universal designated hitter, the man on second base extra-inning rule and the seven-inning doubleheaders. Back in October, commissioner Rob Manfred said things would return to their usual format next season. However, Manfred reportedly told players he would give them the universal designated hitter but only if they agree to an expanded postseason.

For the universal DH to be reimplemented in 2021, the league and player’s union would have to reach a separate agreement, as its not in the current collective bargaining agreement. A new CBA is expected to be agreed upon before the 2022 season, which could very well include the designated hitter ruling.

With the universal DH in limbo, team executives have been rather patient when it comes to signing players. That has affected free agents like Marcell Ozuna and Nelson Cruz, both of whom primarily played DH. In fact, Ozuna became the first designated hitter to win an NL Silver Slugger award. Both are looking to cash-in this offseason, but are currently waiting for more clarity on the situation so they can truly determine which team gives them the most value.

Until an agreement is made, expect NL pitchers to return to plate appearances in 2021.