Although the Major League Baseball Players Association has proposed a universal designated hitter for the upcoming 2019 season — a proposal that has gained significant steam — it doesn’t look like that rule change is in the cards just yet.
Because of the limited time between now and the start of baseball season, it would potentially create an unfair and unbalanced situation for National League teams looking to construct their current rosters. Accordingly, Andy Martino of SNY.tv reports that the rule is unlikely to be adopted ahead of the 2019 season.
While the Players’ Association has proposed a universal designated hitter for the coming season, multiple high-ranking major league sources do not believe that it has a chance to be implemented that quickly.
“It’s hard to tell teams in two weeks they have to construct their team with a DH,” said one source.
Martino adds that National League teams remain strongly opposed to the idea despite the players’ push, and that any sort of middle ground would have to come with substantial concession from the players themselves.
The union has advocated for a universal DH for decades. According to sources, several N.L. owners remain strongly opposed, and the group is not close to consensus on the issue. In order for the players to get their way on this, they would have to offer a significant concession.
“The timing is too tight,” said another person involved in the process. “There is support for the change, but MLB will want something big in return.”
While designated hitters in the National League will be tabled for at least one more year, the MLB’s competition committee has voted to approve banning or limiting defensive shifts. However, MLB owners are not yet on board with that potential rule change.
