If any single player proved this season how valuable the existence of the DH is, it’s Bryce Harper. Without the DH role available, the Phillies would have lost him for the season in April. Without him for that long, it’s hard to see a path where the Phillies even make the playoffs, let alone become the National League Champions.
2022 stats: .286/.364/.514, 18 HR, 63 RBI, 20.4 K%, 10.8 BB%, 138 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
The Good
The last time the Phillies had the reigning NL MVP on their roster, they made it to the World Series for the first time in 15 years.