With the Atlanta Braves continuing to be hung up on giving Josh Donaldson a fourth year, we look at why having the DH would help in this situation.
The Atlanta Braves need Josh Donaldson … we all know that. But we also know there is a lot of risk in giving a 34-year-old a four-year contract.
Since the end of the steroid era, not many players have had a ton of success in their late thirties.
But if the National League had a designated hitter it would probably make the decision a lot easier.
Let me be the first to tell you that I hate the idea of having the DH in the National League. I love the National League game and if I had it my way we would get rid of the DH altogether.
But that’s not going to happen, and the writing is on the wall for the DH to eventually come to the NL. And it could happen during the next MLB collective bargaining agreement, which is set to take place in 2021.
That means there is at least a chance the DH could be moved into the NL by as early as 2022.
If that were to happen, and the Braves were to sign Donaldson to a four-year deal, then he could DH for his age 36 and 37 seasons. Suddenly that doesn’t sound too terrible.
And at that point Austin Riley could be ready to take over the everyday job at third base.
Now, the Braves certainly can’t bank on that happening when deciding whether or not to give Donaldson a fourth year. But it’s interesting to note that if they were going to add a DH I think it makes the decision to sign him a lot easier.
But I also think that if they are going to make a big rule change like that you can’t implement immediately for this very reason. National League teams would need time to prepare.
And National League teams would probably make different decisions now if they knew a DH was coming.
If Josh Donaldson doesn’t come to the Braves, then I really hope he goes to the Minnesota Twins. And it would be smart for him to do so as it gives him a chance to stay in the lineup as a DH when his health and mobility decline.
This is the one time where I would not mind having the DH in the National League because I think if it were the Braves would have already signed Donaldson.