MLB implemented a rule change in 2020 that had National League clubs playing with a designated hitter for the first time to ease impacts of playing in a pandemic. But that rule, at the moment, isn’t on track to stick around for 2021.
With the free agent market in limbo, the league is telling teams to proceed with offseason plans under the guidance that there will be no DH in the NL for 2021, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported.
MLB instructed clubs in a memo last week to proceed under the assumption the DH will not be used in the NL this year, though few will complain if the league and union reach agreement to the contrary.