MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred Says Universal DH Talks Have ‘Moved A Little Bit’

There’s long since been a debate among Major League Baseball fans on whether the league should implement a designated hitter for the National League.

However, that debate seemingly is far from over, according to CBS Sports’ Mike Axisa. At Thursday’s quarterly owners’ meetings, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said talks of a universal DH have “moved a little bit,” according to Newsday’s David Lennon.

However, Axisa writes that it’s “important to note that ‘the dialogue actually probably moved a little bit’ is a very long ways away from the DH coming to the NL.”

Although it’s good news the conversation is being had, it’s bad news for the American League that there doesn’t seem to be a solution to the universal DH in the near future.

Interleague play isn’t common throughout the course of an MLB season, but as fans know, it can be costly to the AL teams’ pitcher when it visits a National League park.

So while it’s a step forward that Manfred and the owners are having the discussion about implementing a designated hitter across the MLB, it should be a topic their focus shifts to in order to protect not just American League pitchers, but pitchers throughout the league.