The 6 best options for Yankees designated hitter in 2018

Despite having every position on the field just about locked up for the 2018 season, the Yankees still have one hole to fill in their lineup. Designated hitter.

2017 was a bipolar season in regards to the Yankees DH spot, with Matt Holliday providing a big boost in the first half only to falter down the stretch following a viral infection and a lower back injury.

After hitting just .179 in the second half, the 37-year-old veteran was reduced to a bench role in the postseason, receiving just three at-bats.

Now, of course, the Yankees’ main priority this offseason is signing two-way star Shohei Ohtani, but second in line should be finding a suitable DH that can make the Bombers’ lineup even more of a potent threat.

Here are some potential routes the club could go.

1. Give Matt Holliday another season

It’s no secret Holliday didn’t fully live up to his $11 million price tag last season, but that can’t take away from his very solid first half, hitting to a .262/.366/.511 slash line with 16 homers in 68 games.

Not to mention the well-known mental impact he had on rookie sensation Aaron Judge, who he became an early mentor to going back to the start of Spring Training.

Maybe general manager Brian Cashman and the Yankees give him the benefit of the doubt and he returns to his early 2017 self, bringing him back for another one-year deal.

2. Sign Shohei Ohtani and platoon him at DH

The Yankees want Ohtani. That much is clear. However, scouts value his pitching capabilities higher than his skill at the plate, but that’s not to say he wouldn’t see success with the bat in MLB.

The 23-year old owns a career .286/.358/.500 slash in 403 career games in Japan, which very well may translate to a reliable offensive threat in the States.

The new Yankee manager could DH Ohtani a once or twice a week, along with using the slot to rest certain players. Which brings us to our next option.

3. Use the DH as a revolving door

Playing devil’s advocate, it wouldn’t be a terrible idea if Brian Cashman left the DH role alone this offseason. Having the option to rotate four outfielders into the lineup (Jacoby Ellsbury, Brett Gardner, Aaron Hicks and Judge) can smooth out the narrative that the Yanks have to shed Ellsbury’s contract (but still please try).

In addition, a young group of players in Clint Frazier, Miguel Andujar, and MLB.com’s No. 1 overall prospect, Gleyber Torres could also slide into the role nicely.

Cashman has already stated this offseason that Torres will compete with Chase Headley for the third base job this spring, maybe slotting one or the other at DH from time-to-time wouldn’t be so bad either.

4. Sign a low-risk free agent to a one-year deal

There really isn’t a wrong answer to the Yankees’ DH question, and going out and signing a low-risk, high-reward player certainly can’t be argued against.

With that said, there are multiple players the Yankees could look at to fill the void as a cheap alternative. A few candidates are:

Mark Reynolds

Mitch Moreland

Mike Napoli

Curtis Granderson

5. Re-sign Todd Frazier; Chase Headley to DH

Once it was revealed that Gleyber Torres would compete for the third base job, it seemed Todd Frazier had seen his last days in pinstripes. But maybe not.

The New Jersey native was acquired this past July along with relievers David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle from the White Sox, where he made a strong clubhouse impact, hitting 11 homers while in pinstripes.

With the DH role still open, the possibility, while slim, remains for Frazier’s potential return to the Bronx.

If he is willing to remain a Yankee on the terms of a one or two-year deal, why not bring back the Toddfather? And if so, simply slide Headley over to DH, in addition to getting a start here or there at first base against left-handed pitchers.

6. Trade for Giancarlo Stanton

Hey, why not. Although the odds of the Yankees coming to a deal with Derek Jeter’s Marlins, to take on Stanton are slim-to-none, let’s dream up a potential scenario.

In an effort to solidify them as the AL favorite to win it all, Cashman gets the okay from Hal Steinbrenner to bypass their goal to get under the luxury tax threshold of $197 million.

They eventually agree to terms with the Marlins to send Clint Frazier, Billy McKinney and Luis Cessa over to Miami, while Jeter agrees to eat $50 million of the remaining $295 million.

Stanton agrees — it’s done. The Yankees now have a lineup that consists of Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Greg Bird, and NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton. Enough said.

Will it happen? No, most likely not, but fans can dream.

Next: Mock Yankees' transactions

Now that the options are listed, odds are likely they go the route of a low-risk free agent, or use the revolving door DH to rest players.

With the Winter Meetings set to take place December 10-14, the answer may be coming sooner rather than later, along with the selection of the new manager.

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