Ranking the best 10 designated hitters in Major League Baseball for 2016 – CBSSports.com


February 2, 2016 2:30 PM ET

We’ve made our way through the position player rankings (previous rankings: C | 1B | 2B |SS | 3B | LF | CF | RF), and now it’s time to give the desginated hitters their due.

As was the case with previous rankings, let’s keep these things in mind:

1. We are ranking the players based upon which ones we’d most want to have for the 2016 season only, ignoring salary. Quite simply, if money were no object and you were trying to win the World Series this season, which player would you most want to have?

2. These are subjective, as voted on by Matt Snyder, Dayn Perry and Mike Axisa. We ranked the players at each position individually and averaged out the results.

3. These aren’t fantasy baseball rankings. All-around play matters (obviously, though, defense isn’t a part of the DH calculus).

At the top of our DH rankings for 2016? This guy.
At the top of our DH rankings for 2016? This guy. (USATSI)

1. Nelson Cruz, Mariners

Cruz has proved himself in a big way over the last two seasons. First, he showed us he could hit outside of Arlington when he blasted 40 homers for the Orioles in 2014. Then he proved he could hit in run-suppressing Safeco by tallying 44 homers last season. Over that span, Cruz has slugged .545 with an OPS+ of 148. Yes, he’s entering into his age-35 season, but the fact that he ranked sixth in all of baseball last season in average distance of fly balls bodes well for the near future.

2. David Ortiz, Red Sox

The possible future Hall of Famer is coming off yet another impressive season. For a while, it looked like decline had set in, but Ortiz in 2015 thumped .325/.401/.701 in the second half to lift his numbers into characteristic territory. Yes, Big Papi is 40 years old, but the expectation is that he continues to produce in his final season.

3. Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays

Since his breakout season of 2012, E.E. has batted .274/.371/.549 (150 OPS+) and averaged 44 homers per 162 games played. He’s battled occasional injuries, but the rate-based productivity is tremendous. There’s very little separating the top three.

4. Prince Fielder, Rangers

Fielder put injuries behind him in 2015 and came up with a big season: .305/.378/.463 with 23 homers in 158 games. Fielder doesn’t have the raw power he had during his prime seasons, but he’s got on-base skills and, except for 2014, has been uncommonly durable.

5. Alex Rodriguez, Yankees

A-Rod came back from his suspension and was quite productive last season: 131 OPS+ with 33 homers. That was probably his best offensive season since 2009. He did fade down the stretch (fatigue?), and he’s now 40 years of age. Thanks to his strong 2015, though, A-Rod projects quite well for 2016.

6. Kendrys Morales, Royals

Morales, coming off a terrible 2014, was a most pleasant surprise last season, as he batted .290/.362/.485 with 22 homers and 41 doubles for the world champion Royals. He’s headed into his age-33 season, and the CBSSports Fantasy projections tab him for a useful line of .267/.335/.450.

7. Victor Martinez, Tigers

Will Martinez rebound from his miserable 2015? He’s 37, so age-related decline is certainly a consideration. However, for most of his career V-Mart has been an elite blend of power and contact skills. It’s certainly possible that Martinez’s knee problems sapped his production last year, so better health may yield better results at the plate.

8. Mark Trumbo, Orioles

Trumbo’s indeed a rich source of right-handed power, as he’s averaged 31 homers per 162 games played over his career. He’ll no doubt find Camden Yards to be very accommodating toward his skill set. On the downside, he’s lugging around a career OBP of just .300. In his first season as a primary DH, will Trumbo be subject to the DH penalty?

9. Evan Gattis, Astros

Gattis is a lot like Trumbo, in that he has plenty of power from the right side but struggles to reach base at an adequate clip. CBSSports Fantasy projects him for 28 homers in 546 at-bats but an OBP of just .292.

10. Byung-Ho Park, Twins

Here’s the unknown quantity. The 29-year-old Korean import boasts impressive power (105 homers over the last two seasons in KBO), and last season Jung Ho Kang proved that Korean hitters can pass muster and even thrive in MLB. That said, when a hitter is making such an extreme leap, it’s wise to temper expectations. Park, though, has the upside to be much higher on this list next time.

Coming Wednesday: the top starting pitchers of 2016.


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–>






Radio Row “,”synopsis”:”Super Bowl 50: Radio Row”,”photo”:{“width”:”231″,”seq_no”:”1″,”content_id”:”25470208″,”href”:”$IMAGE_SERVER/u/photos/football/nfl/img25470208.jpg”,”height”:”130″},”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/video/player/live”,”title”:”Live: Super Bowl Radio Row”},”headlines”:[{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/video/player/live”,”content”:”Latest news”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25470063/the-browns-issued-an-ominous-statement-on-johnny-manziel-release-coming”,”content”:”Browns send indication they’ll release Manziel”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25469889/peyton-on-hgh-i-can-guarantee-you-this-investigation-will-find-a-big-fat-nothing”,”content”:”Peyton: HGH probe will find a ‘big, fat nothing'”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25469879/heres-why-josh-norman-appeared-mad-at-deion-sanders-during-super-bowl-50-media-day”,”content”:”Josh Norman rips Deion Sanders at media night”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25469666/super-bowl-50-peyton-manning-finally-explains-his-last-rodeo-comments”,”content”:”Manning finally explains his ‘last rodeo’ remark”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”Super Bowl 50 Pick: Will the Panthers blowout Peyton Manning’s Broncos? www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25469837/super-bowl-50-pick-will-the-panthers-blowout-peyton-mannings-broncos”,”content”:”Why he doesn’t dance”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25470031/super-bowl-50-broncos-panthers-share-stories-behind-their-tattoos”,”content”:”Broncos, Panthers share stories behind tattoos”}]},”college football”:{“minicover”:{“body”:”

Wiltfong: National Signing Day is and loaded with intrigue. Among the storylines, the No. 1 recruit is undecided and the SEC West is fighting atop the rankings. Preview “,”synopsis”:”’16 National Signing Day Preview”,”photo”:{“width”:”231″,”seq_no”:”1″,”content_id”:”25470182″,”href”:”$IMAGE_SERVER/u/photos/football/college/img25470182.jpg”,”height”:”130″},”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/eye-on-college-football/25470017/national-signing-day-previewing-the-top-classes-and-storylines”,”title”:”Need to know: Signing Day”},”headlines”:[{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/eye-on-college-football/25469518/report-top-recruit-rashan-gary-down-to-2-schools-ahead-of-nsd”,”content”:”Top recruit Gary narrows list to two schools”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/writer/dennis-dodd/25467123/newton-rewrote-rules-but-heres-how-cheating-is-still-rampant-in-college”,”content”:”Dodd: How cheating is still rampant in college”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/eye-on-college-football/25468757/linebacker-decommits-from-alabama-after-being-asked-to-gray-shirt”,”content”:”LB decommits from Alabama over gray shirt”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/eye-on-college-football/25469147/baylor-qb-seth-russell-cleared-to-return-to-field-after-fracturing-neck”,”content”:”Baylor QB Russell cleared to return to field “},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://247sports.com/Article/Nebraska-Cornhuskers-land-Top247-defensive-back-Lamar-Jackson-43379983″,”content”:”Nebraska picks up top-5 CB commit from Calif.”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/eye-on-college-football/25466621/the-10-most-intense-recruiting-battles-heading-into-national-signing-day”,”content”:”10 most intense recruiting battles before NSD”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://alabama.247sports.com/Bolt/BREAKING-Top100-CB-commits-to-Alabama–43344770″,”content”:”Top 100, four-star CB commits to Alabama”}]},”mlb”:{“minicover”:{“body”:”

Perry: David Ortiz is entering his final MLB season. Is Nelson Cruz his heir apparent as the best designated hitter in baseball? We rank the top 10 DHs. Story “,”synopsis”:”MLB: Top 10 DHs”,”photo”:{“width”:”231″,”seq_no”:”1″,”content_id”:”25470247″,”href”:”$IMAGE_SERVER/u/photos/baseball/mlb/img25470247.jpg”,”height”:”130″},”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/25469896/ranking-the-best-10-designated-hitters-in-major-league-baseball-for-2016″,”title”:”Baseball’s best designated hitters”},”headlines”:[{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/25469023/yankees-greg-bird-out-for-2016-three-things-to-know”,”content”:”Yankees 1B Greg Bird (shoulder) out for season”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/25469423/new-dodgers-manager-dave-roberts-offers-yasiel-puig-a-clean-slate”,”content”:”Yasiel Puig offered clean slate by new manager”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/25469571/mlb-news-transactions-rumors-for-feb-1-white-sox-interested-in-ethier”,”content”:”Rumors: White Sox exploring trade for Ethier”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/25467446/diamondbacks-acquire-jean-segura-as-part-of-five-player-deal”,”content”:”Brewers send Segura to D-Backs”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/25365271/2016-mlb-trade-tracker”,”content”:”Tracker“},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/25468125/twins-gm-terry-ryan-reiterates-that-joe-mauer-will-never-catch-again”,”content”:”Twins GM Ryan: Mauer will never catch again”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/25467060/two-major-outlets-name-corey-seager-top-prospect-in-baseball”,”content”:”Corey Seager leads multiple top-prospect lists”}]},”nhl”:{“minicover”:{“body”:”

Peters: The push for the playoffs is on post-All-Star break. And with 24 teams still with a shot, expect more buyers than sellers as the trade deadline looms. Power Rankings “,”synopsis”:”NHL Power Rankings”,”photo”:{“width”:”231″,”seq_no”:”1″,”content_id”:”25470118″,”href”:”$IMAGE_SERVER/u/photos/hockey/img25470118.jpg”,”height”:”130″},”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/story/25470099/nhl-power-rankings-postseason-push-begins-post-all-star-break”,”title”:”Time to jockey”},”headlines”:[{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/eye-on-hockey/25469857/nhl-picks-panthers-return-to-action-with-win-over-ovechkin-less-caps”,”content”:”Tuesday Picks: Panthers to top Ovie-less Caps”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/eye-on-hockey/25470249/nhl-odds-capitals-still-stanley-cup-favorites-kane-favored-for-hart”,”content”:”Odds: Caps still Cup favorites; Kane for Hart”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/eye-on-hockey/25468888/john-scott-helped-boost-all-star-ratings-named-nhls-no-1-star-of-the-week”,”content”:”Scott boosts ASG ratings, named star of week”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/eye-on-hockey/25469005/top-pick-connor-mcdavid-expected-to-return-to-oilers-lineup-on-tuesday-“,”content”:”McDavid expected to return to Oilers Tuesday”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/eye-on-hockey/25468393/john-scott-wins-all-star-game-mvp-award-takes-home-new-car”,”content”:”All-Star enforcer John Scott earns MVP honors”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/eye-on-hockey/25468203/nhl-all-star-game-3-on-3-tournament-live-updates”,”content”:” All-Star Game: Things to know from Nashville”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/eye-on-hockey/25467975/report-commissioner-gary-bettmans-new-contract-runs-through-2022″,”content”:”Report: Bettman’s new deal runs through 2022″}]},”extras”:{“collegefootball”:{“links”:[{“href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/writers/dennis-dodd”,”content”:”Dennis Dodd”},{“href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/writers/jon-solomon”,”content”:”Jon 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Coverage”}]},”autoracing”:{“links”:[{“href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/nascar/chase”,”content”:”Chase”},{“href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/nascar/blog/eye-on-nascar”,”content”:”Eye on NASCAR”},{“href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/nascar/photos”,”content”:”Photos”}]}},”config”:{“omni_event”:”More”,”brackets”:{“omni_event”:”Brackets”,”cover”:0,”domEl”:”brackets”,”active”:0,”headlines”:0},”olympics”:{“omni_event”:”Olympics”,”cover”:1,”domEl”:”olympics”,”active”:1,”headlines”:1},”mlb”:{“omni_event”:”MLB”,”cover”:1,”domEl”:”mlb”,”active”:1,”headlines”:1},”maxpreps”:{“omni_event”:”HighSchool”,”cover”:1,”domEl”:”highschool”,”active”:1,”headlines”:1},”tennis”:{“omni_event”:”Tennis”,”cover”:1,”domEl”:”tennis”,”active”:1,”headlines”:1},”college 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on”},”headlines”:[{“paid”:null,”href”:”http://www.maxpreps.com/news/3lQChCd-5UyDlmn1tmf1Vw/ranking-the-no-1-high-school-football-recruits.htm”,”content”:”Ranking the No. 1 HS football recruits”},{“paid”:null,”href”:”http://www.maxpreps.com/news/JmdOWpHkMUmOS7K_yBvTrw/top-5-plays–5-star-defensive-tackle-rashan-gary.htm”,”content”:”Top 5 Plays: 5-star DT Rashan Gary”},{“paid”:null,”href”:”http://www.maxpreps.com/news/g9nDqZdGdkOir6VZLZLsDQ/2016-national-signing-day-announcement-schedule-and-picks-for-top-uncommited-recruits.htm”,”content”:”NSD Schedule and Info”},{“paid”:null,”href”:”http://www.maxpreps.com/news/bVmIC7z6vEOyqu91p3cR2w/live-video–nigel-warrior-national-signing-day-announcement-.htm”,”content”:”Live NSD signing: Nigel Warrior”},{“paid”:null,”href”:”http://www.maxpreps.com/news/T_vYXJ121UOhVzFFYZvUGQ/super-bowl-50–how-many-players-were-4–or-5-star-recruits-in-high-school.htm”,”content”:”Recruit rankings of Super Bowl 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Can they make playoff noise? What are their trade deadline plans? Our guys discuss. 3-Man Weave “,”synopsis”:”Rockets’ deadline plans”,”photo”:{“width”:”231″,”seq_no”:”1″,”content_id”:”25470108″,”href”:”$IMAGE_SERVER/u/photos/basketball/nba/img25470108.jpg”,”height”:”130″},”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/25470007/rockets-can-go-a-lot-of-ways-from-here-starting-at-the-trade-deadline”,”title”:”Rockets in transition”},”headlines”:[{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/25470106/dwight-howard-suspended-one-game-for-striking-arm-of-referee”,”content”:”Howard suspended game for striking ref’s arm”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/25470089/report-remainder-of-season-a-trial-for-lakers-coach-byron-scott”,”content”:”Report: Rest of season a ‘trial’ for Byron Scott”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/25469905/the-fred-hoiberg-led-bulls-are-still-struggling-to-find-an-identity”,”content”:”Harper: Hoiberg’s Bulls struggling with identity”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/25470164/nba-mvp-odds-steph-curry-the-overwhelming-favorite-to-win-award-again”,”content”:”MVP odds: Curry running away from rest of pack”},{“paid”:”true”,”href”:”http://www.sportsline.com/insiders/25469232/today-in-the-nba-twolves-a-road-fave-in-la?ttag=SL15_ed_hl_cbssports_hartstein_0202″,”content”:”NBA Today: Wolves an ‘A’ pick at Lakers”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/25469672/report-hawks-will-at-least-listen-to-trade-offers-for-al-horford”,”content”:”Report: Hawks to listen to offers for Al Horford”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/nba/writer/ken-berger/25468689/jeff-hornacek-is-the-latest-victim-in-the-suns-ongoing-season-of-despair”,”content”:”Berger: Hornacek latest victim in Valley of the Sun”}]},”college basketball”:{“minicover”:{“body”:”

Parrish: Texas might have had a shaky start to the year, but Shaka Smart has the Longhorns playing their best at the right time. They look poised for a run. Story “,”synopsis”:”Parrish: Smart’s success”,”photo”:{“width”:”231″,”seq_no”:”1″,”content_id”:”25469939″,”href”:”$IMAGE_SERVER/u/photos/basketball/college/img25469939.jpg”,”height”:”130″},”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/25470103/texas-has-turned-the-corner-just-like-shaka-smarts-teams-usually-do”,”title”:”Texas uprising?”},”headlines”:[{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/25469525/no-19-louisville-beats-no-2-north-carolina-gets-first-signature-victory-of-the-season”,”content”:”No. 2 Tar Heels fall on road to No. 19 Louisville”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/25469646/bracketology-north-carolina-falls-to-a-no-2-seed-kansas-moves-up-to-a-no-1″,”content”:”Palm: Kansas replaces UNC as a No. 1 seed “},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/25469637/shaka-smart-texas-now-3rd-in-big-12-standings-after-win-at-baylor”,”content”:”Texas impressive in road win at No. 15 Baylor”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/25469871/north-carolina-falls-to-fifth-in-updated-cbs-sports-top-25-and-one”,”content”:”Top 25 (and one): Tar Heels down to No. 5″},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/25469906/buddy-hield-grayson-allen-malcolm-brogdon-help-comprise-jerry-west-award-finalists”,”content”:”Hield, Brogdon lead Jerry West award finalists”},{“paid”:”true”,”href”:”http://www.sportsline.com/insiders/25469622/cbb-picks-will-uk-fall-flat-tonight-in-knoxville/”,”content”:”Will Kentucky bounce back at Tennessee?”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/25469874/record-setting-cornell-stud-matt-morgan-is-our-freshman-of-the-week”,”content”:”Cornell’s Morgan is our Freshman of the Week”}]},”fantasy news”:{“minicover”:{“body”:”“,”photo”:{“seq_no”:”1″,”width”:230,”href”:”http://cbssports1.cbsistatic.com/hub/api/content/image/01711761-9ae5-473e-8a51-e289751f9ecb/resize/230×140/c8f5cde02c1ddf69ee95f36d59228258/miguel-cabrera.jpg”,”height”:140},”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/draft-day-dilemmas-is-miguel-cabrera-too-risky-for-round-1/”,”title”:”Miggy too risky for Round 1?”},”headlines”:[{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/draft-day-dilemmas-joey-gallo-chris-davis-fantasy-breakout/”,”content”:”Two strikes on Joey Gallo?”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/fantasy-football-receivers-key-to-2016-draft-strategy/”,”content”:”WRs key to 2016 drafts”}]},”worldcup”:{“minicover”:{“body”:”

John Brooks’ header to send the US past Ghana. Brazil’s epic collapse. Mario Gotze’s clinching goal in the final. We hand out awards for the best moments in Brazil. Story “,”synopsis”:”World Cup in review”,”photo”:{“width”:”231″,”seq_no”:”1″,”content_id”:”24620624″,”href”:”$IMAGE_SERVER/u/photos/soccer/img24620624.jpg”,”height”:”130″},”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/world-cup/eye-on-world-cup/24620523/cbssportscom-2014-fifa-world-cup-awards-best-moments”,”title”:”World Cup’s best moments”},”headlines”:[{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/world-cup/eye-on-world-cup/24622027/world-cup-final-sets-usa-television-record-with-265-million-viewers”,”content”:”Cup final sets ratings mark for soccer on US TV”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/world-cup/eye-on-world-cup/24621936/watch-massive-crowd-celebrates-germanys-world-cup-victory”,”content”:”Massive crowd toasts German team in Berlin”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/world-cup/eye-on-world-cup/24620830/maradona-claims-messis-golden-ball-award-just-a-marketing-plan”,”content”:”Maradona: Messi undeserving of Golden Ball”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/world-cup/eye-on-world-cup/24620634/world-cup-2018-odds-germany-early-favorite-to-repeat-us-50-to-1″,”content”:”Germany early favorite for the 2018 World Cup”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/world-cup/eye-on-world-cup/24620345/brazil-coach-luiz-felipe-scolari-out-after-disastrous-end-to-world-cup”,”content”:”Brazil boots manager after ugly World Cup finish”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/world-cup/eye-on-world-cup/24619193/report-suarez-will-lose-millions-from-barcelona-if-he-bites-anyone”,”content”:”Suarez will lose millions from Barca if he bites”},{“paid”:”false”,”href”:”http://www.cbssports.com/world-cup/eye-on-world-cup/24615958/fifa-world-cup-final-germany-vs-argentina-preview”,”content”:”Germany edges Argentina to win ’14 World Cup”}]}};
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