Cincinnati Reds: Three reasons to be excited about the universal DH

2. Adding the DH will give the Reds outfield rotation some flexibility.

After the Reds signed Shogo Akiyama and Nick Castellanos, there was a lot of discussion about having too many outfielders on the roster. How will management divide playing time? Who is the odd man out? Should they make a trade?

Those questions, and others, were logical  before coronavirus pandemic shut down spring training and delayed the 2020 season. Now that the universal DH is here, having an abundance of outfielders is a blessing for the Reds.

Throughout the 60-game season, Cincinnati can use any of their outfielders in the role of universal designated hitter without sacrificing defense. This is a benefit not many NL teams have at their disposal heading into the season.

When the Reds use an outfield of Jesse Winker in left, Akiyama in center and Castellanos in right, the DH could be Nick Senzel, Aristides Aquino or Phillip Ervin. On days when Castellanos needs a break, he could serve as the DH while Aquino plays right field. When Akiyama takes his turn at DH, Senzel will easily slide into center field. Ervin can play left when Winker takes over at DH.

The 60-man player pool will also give the Reds some additional outfielders to add to the mix. These players could include Josh VanMeter, Travis Jankowski, Mark Payton and Scott Schebler. Their value will come in giving starters time off from playing in the field so they can serve as designated hitter.

The Reds will have the luxury of building a stronger batting lineup. If this season was played with the universal DH, a potent outfield bat would have sat on the bench, hoping for a late-inning substitution or pinch-hitting opportunity.

Now, Manager David Bell can stack his lineup with an extra-strong hitter every game. Where the outfield depth was once looked at as a potential problem, it is now an obvious positive in the time of the universal DH in the National League.