We still don't when -- heck, if -- a new agreement will be reached between the owners and the Players Association, but one bit of certainty emerged from the end of the quarterly owners meetings in Orlando Thursday.
In a press conference, commissioner Rob Manfred revealed that the two sides have already agreed to adopt the universal DH, meaning that, for the first time since it was introduced to the American League in 1973, it will now also become a permanent fixture in the National League, too.
(MLB had the universal DH in both leagues for the 2020 season, but oddly, couldn't come to an agreement for the 2021 season.)
That decision has the potential to impact the Red Sox in several ways.
First, it opens up the potential for an additional 15 bidders should the Sox look to move J.D. Martinez, who has one year remaining on his contract. Without the universal DH, the Red Sox would have likely been restricted to dealing with the other 14 American League teams. Martinez has played irregularly in the outfield the last few years, and while there may some less mobile outfielders in the big leagues, there aren't many. It's highly doubtful that an NL team would have taken on Martinez if they had been faced with finding him a spot in the outfield for him for 145 or so games. No, that's a non-issue.
And why would the Red Sox be looking to shop Martinez, who, among players who spent at least half the season with the 2021 club, was first in doubles (42) and was second in RBI (99), OPS (.867), total bases (295), slugging percentage (.518), and runs scored (92)? In part, it could be because they might prefer bringing back Kyle Schwarber to fill the role of DH.
There exists a scenario where the Sox both retain Martinez -- who has a year remaining on his five-year deal at $19.375 million -- and also re-sign Schwarber. The Sox could have Martinez as the primary DH, with occasional games in the outfield, with Schwarber splitting time between left field, first base and DH. Then, when Martinez's deal expires after 2022, Schwarber could become the regular DH in 2023 and going forward.
Even as the entire National League opens up as potential landing spots for Martinez, ironically, an American League team remains the best fit. The Seattle Mariners need an offensive boost and Martinez would be a welcome addition to their lineup, while also serving as a hitting mentor to a number of the team's young stars, including outfielders Jarred Kelenic and prized prospect Julio Rodriguez. The Mariners have money to spend with just $42.5 million in commitments before arbitration cases are included, and are desperate to reach the postseason, having missed out every year since 2001, the sport's longest current drought.
But just as the universal DH has opened up potential trade partners for the Sox should they seek engage offers on Martinez, it also benefits Schwarber. Now, he, too, has nearly double the options for signing, though it should be pointed out, he managed to play his entire career in the NL before being dealt to the Sox at the deadline last July, with all but one of those seasons not featuring the DH.
So, yes, Schwarber could have sold himself an option to NL teams without the DH. But now that the DH is permanent in the NL, his value increases. The Chicago Cubs, who drafted Schwarber in the first round in 2014 and used him mostly as an outfielder for parts of six season, are rumored to have some interest in bringing Schwarber back.
A third option remains for the Red Sox when it comes to DH, which would be: none of the above. The Sox could ship out Martinez for a prospect and some financial flexibility, pass on Schwarber, too, and then rotate a number of different players through the DH spot without reserving it for any one player.
The flexibility of the Boston roster could allow the likes of Rafael Devers, Xander Bogaerts, Bobby Dalbec, Christian Vazquez and others to each take one day a week in the DH spot, enabling them to remain fresh for the entire season.
For the most part, however, that plan is ordinarily associated with small market teams who are mindful of payroll costs and don't want to spent for the kind of salary usually afforded a veteran slugger.
