With the regular season wrapped, MLBTR turns its lens to the DH market for 2026‑27. Plenty of corner‑outfield and first‑base bats could fill the role, but we’ll spotlight the hitters who’ve mostly hung up their gloves.
Ages reflect the 2027 season; names within each tier appear alphabetically and are not ranked. Only players who saw MLB action or were on a 60‑day IL this year are listed.
Previous entries in this series: Catcher, First Base, Second Base, Third Base, Shortstop, Center Field, Corner Outfield
Josh Bell (34)
Bell saw limited time at first base—just 20 games and 141 innings for Minnesota, and 253 innings in Washington the year before. He’s a serviceable option there, yet his age suggests a shift toward a full‑time DH role.
What makes Bell valuable is his steady power: 21 homers this season and 101 over the last five years. A switch‑hitter with neutral splits, he posted a .273/.336/.461 line in his final 453 plate appearances, roughly 22% above average.
His season‑long slash was a modest .255/.319/.419 (106 wRC+), but he became a reliable DH after the early slump. Despite a bulky frame, his strikeout rate sits at a respectable 19.7% for 2026, and his walk rate has hovered near league average.
The Twins hold a $10 MM mutual option for 2027, yet it’s hard to picture both sides exercising it. More likely, Bell will chase a one‑year, affordable contract from a club that values a seasoned professional hitter.
Joc Pederson (35)
Pederson’s two‑year, $38.5 MM pact with Texas fizzled, but his 2026 rebound was convincing: a .235/.329/.487 line that outperformed the league by 28% after park adjustments, and 26 homers—the second‑best of his career.
Even in his rough 2025, Pederson showed signs of recovery, trimming his strikeout rate to 21.3% and keeping walks above 11%. He kept a 91.2 mph exit velocity and a 44.6% hard‑hit rate, though his BABIP lingered at .203. A hand fracture in September ended his season, but he should be ready for spring.
A pure DH, Pederson has logged only 93 defensive innings in three years. He struggles against lefties (.206/.301/.337) but thrives versus right‑handers, making him a niche asset for any club needing a right‑handed DH punch.
George Springer (37)
Springer appeared in just 16 defensive innings for Toronto, posting –6 DRS and –8 Statcast scores. His once‑elite speed has faded as he entered his late 30s.
After a slow start and a broken toe in April, Springer surged from May to September, hitting .274/.347/.455. He cooled off at season’s end, finishing .249/.321/.405 with 15 homers over 517 PA.
His recent splits have flipped: .265/.337/.417 versus right‑handers and .213/.285/.376 versus left‑handers, ending a long‑standing platoon advantage.
Springer hasn’t confirmed 2027 plans; he hinted the decision will be family‑driven. If he returns, he’ll likely chase one‑year, low‑cost DH deals.
Eugenio Suárez (35)
Suárez’s 26 homers in Cincinnati didn’t translate to team success. After a sluggish .200/.275/.386 start, he surged late, posting .235/.363/.523 in his final 182 PA, ending with a .217/.302/.433 line overall.
His defensive stint at third base hurt his value—‑4 DRS and ‑7 OAA in 401 innings. Any new club will likely limit his corner work, hoping to capture the late‑season power surge he displayed.
Beyond the numbers, Suárez is a clubhouse favorite. Unable to secure a multi‑year deal after a 49‑homer season, he’ll probably settle for a one‑year contract, and the Reds’ $16 MM mutual option looks too steep.
End of the Road?
Nick Castellanos (35)
Released by Philadelphia in February, Castellanos briefly joined San Diego before flopping at .191/.221/.339 with a career‑worst 27.9% strikeout rate. The Padres cut him on June 5, and he remains unsigned.
Starling Marte (38)
Marte’s one‑year, $1 MM deal with Kansas City yielded a .242/.298/.314 line in 168 PA before his release in August. At 38, he’s posted negative WAR in two of the past four seasons and now sits on the market.
Andrew McCutchen (40)
After a brief Rangers stint, McCutchen managed just .192/.277/.260 in 83 PA and was let go. A short Triple‑A run with Atlanta ended with his release at the trade deadline, suggesting he may have opted out.
His peak was among this era’s best, yet the five‑time All‑Star’s career appears to be winding down.
Marcell Ozuna (36)
Pittsburgh gave Ozuna a $12 MM contract, but he faltered, hitting .203/.286/.327 with a career‑worst 28.6% strikeout rate over 280 PA before his early‑August release.
Jorge Soler (35)
Soler joined the Angels, posted .203/.291/.373 in 361 PA, and was released in August after a mixed April, a disastrous May, and an oblique strain in June. He still possesses solid bat speed and hard‑hit metrics, though.