Draft Guide: The Best Designated Hitters
By Mike SanClemente - Managing Editor
07/31/2007
NASHVILLE - By definition, DH is the easiest position to staff on the diamond. But you want to be sure you’ve got a big bopper there, especially if you’re an AL team, or any NL team seeking to put up a strong showing in World Series games or interleague play at AL parks.
For example, with Giambi out, the Yankees often used Johnny Damon at DH. He’s not bad – he has some power, and can steal a few bases, but he hardly instills fear in the opposing pitcher. I generally don’t like to speak in such general terms, but ideally you want to have a more threatening bat than Damon manning the DH spot in the order.
Below are rankings of players based on this year’s cards, and below that is another ranking of overall value which incorporates future value as well.
As DH isn’t technically a position, I’ve listed any primary DHs from the AL, as well as NLers like Barry Bonds who would likely not take the field for his Strat team. It wasn’t easy to find the perfect National League cutoff point: several people were on the bubble, for example, I put Adam Dunn (LF 4e13, a poor OF rating) on this list but not Matt Holliday (LF 4e7) or Ryan Howard (1B 4e14), neither of whom were quite as bad at their relative spots.
Current cards:
- Travis Hafner – 1.100 OPS puts him at the top of this chart.
- David Ortiz - If he requires explanation, I think you’re on the wrong website! A member of the “one thousand OPS” club.
- Barry Bonds - Behind the others only because of a relatively low AB total, 367.
- Jim Thome – Fabulous rebound season, and even throws in a 1B 4e7 for good measure, a good enough rating to be played there with regularity. Member of the “one thousand OPS” club. However, his 8R balance rating makes him more susceptible to lefty relief than the bashers above him on this list.
- Chipper Jones – His 3B 4e29 made some owners move him to DH, if not fulltime then on a platoon basis, if a good enough 3B could be found to replace him. Another member of the “one thousand OPS” club, but not as high as the others due to slightly fewer AB.
- Alfonso Soriano – Tremendous speed helps put him up this high.
- Vlad Guerrero – When I used to live in Orange County, during Angel games I’d stand up and proclaim “Vlad’s the best…the best DH in the whole league!” People didn’t seem to like that very much.
- Frank Thomas – Great comeback year: .926 OPS in a pitcher’s park means a better card than the next guy on the list…
- Jason Giambi – Nothing like being so good that a bad year means a mere .971 OPS.
- Adam Dunn – LF 4e13 is his best position, but if you’re a strong team, you put him at DH rather than the field. Great guy to bat fifth behind big on-base people because of his low double-play propensity.
- Mike Piazza – Only an .843 OPS, he did that in a pitcher’s park, has 400 ABs and obviously can do a little catching – the latter is what puts him this high on the list.
- Carlos Lee – Strong year, buoyed by 19 steals in 21 tries.
- Marcus Thames – Bigtime power, but less than 400 plate appearances limits his value against this crowd.
- Chris Duncan – Not many ABs, but a great OPS (.952). Use him strictly against RHP, and rest him against poorer teams
- Josh Willingham – Serviceable bat for the position, emergency backup at 1B and OF, but what separates him from the other adequate bats is a catcher rating. Putting him behind the plate in a blowout or with a good-hold pitcher on the mound for you can save you bundles of ABs for more valuable catchers.
- Juan Rivera – A bit of a breakout year, and an in-a-pinch 4e10 in CF doesn’t hurt.
- Aubrey Huff – Slightly more valuable than Millar because of his versatility, playing 1B, RF and 3B. 3B is a bonus as he’s a 4e10, a fairly good mark for a third baseman. But if you already have a fulltime guy at 3B, it’s not such a big advantage.
- Prince Fielder – Your typical DH.
- Conor Jackson – 1B 5e16, decent OBP, but nothing special.
- Kevin Millar – Normally referred to as an ‘average’ player, his numbers equate to a below average DH. He’s not bad, but if Millar’s on your team, your opponent likely has a better DH than you.
- Matt Stairs – A useful player who will usually cost you less to acquire than the others on this page; should be leveraged in a platoon role only, but every year he seems to surprise me with a better-than-expected performance.
- Rickie Weeks – Poor D (2B 4e39!) and a good bat can get you on any DH list!
- Kenny Lofton – Yes, a CF 4e5 will get you on the DH list. 32 steals and a .360 OBP is helpful.
- Jay Gibbons – Near clone of Matt Stairs.
- Jonny Gomes – A good DH vs lefties.
- Frank Catalanotto – Not too strong in any area except walks, and didn’t play an infield position this year.
- Jeremy Hermida – 4e16s in right and centerfield, and just 5 homers last year, put him low on this scale.
- Mike Sweeney – No position, very few ABs, .787 OPS. After so many good years, it is sad to find him at the bottom of this list.
Overall value, with new players bolded:
- Ortiz
- Soriano (who may drop off this list if his defense improves)
- Hafner
- Fielder (who may drop off this list if his 1B defense should improve)
- Dunn
- Guerrero
- Thome
- C. Jones
- Gary Sheffield
- Dmitri Young
- Giambi
- C. Lee
- Weeks
- Hermida
- F. Thomas
- C. Jackson
- Duncan
- Bonds
- J. Rivera
- Adam Lind
- Willingham
- Piazza
- Hideki Matsui
- Huff
- Thames
- Millar
- Sammy Sosa
- Gibbons