Major League Baseball owners and players haven't yet decided on an economic plan that suits both sides. MLB's latest proposal, a tiered/sliding-scale salary model, produces drastic cuts — but the players aren't having it.
While there's still work to be done on that front and, thus, work to be done to get a 2020 MLB season at all, there is some hope in a different facet of the game.
In early discussions about a new-look, coronavirus-shortened season, the idea of a universal designated hitter came to light. Due to the extreme circumstances and sides, both the American League and National League could employ a DH in 2020 under this plan.
Now, per Jon Heyman, that's a go:
While MLB and players are eons apart on $, one piece of good news is there seems to be general agreement on universal DH for 2020. Appears to be a fait accompli. MLB seeks to decrease injury risk of pitchers hitting, esp w/extra interleague games coming with a geographic schedule
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) May 27, 2020
Hey, that's a decent win during these touch-and-go times. Tensions are high between players and owners, and there are miles to go before an official, end-all agreement is made.
Agreeing on the universal DH is a step in a positive direction, albeit a small one.
For the Pirates specifically, this could prove beneficial, too. A star hitter such as Josh Bell who struggles defensively is an obvious candidate for the DH position, but there are some creative, outside-the-box options for the club as well, including shortstop Kevin Newman, who's coming off a stellar rookie campaign in 2019.
By using Newman as the DH, the Pirates could get Cole Tucker more major-league reps, allowing his defensive strengths to shine while continuing to hone his craft at the plate.
Regardless of how it shakes out on that front, one thing is certain: This is progress. And any progress right now is a good thing if we're going to watch baseball in 2020.
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