DH In National League In Coming Years? Cubs Would Love That

By Chris Emma--

(CBS) The discussion to permanently bring the designated hitter to the National League is gaining momentum, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred told reporters at the owners meetings Thursday, according to New York Newsday.

A progressive-thinking mind, Manfred indicated that the NL could potentially have a designated hitter in place as soon as the 2017 season. That would come with a new collective bargaining agreement, with discussions to follow after this 2016 season.

How the owners react and what Manfred believes is best for the game will determine the DH fate.

"Twenty years ago, when you talked to National League owners about the DH, you'd think you were talking some sort of heretical comment," Manfred told USA Today. "But we have a newer group. There's been turnover. I think our owners in general have demonstrated a willingness to change the game in ways we think would be good for the fans, always respecting the history and traditions of the sport."

Such discussion comes as no surprise to Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein, who has long been prepared for this possibility and would embrace the change.

"We have so many hitters coming, we wouldn't mind a DH in our lineup," Epstein said last weekend at the Cubs Convention.

While Epstein, general manager Jed Hoyer and the Cubs admittedly aren't necessarily viewing this as a strong possibility, they're largely aware that it could happen.

This NL adding a DH became a sharp topic of conversation last April, when the Cardinals lost ace pitcher Adam Wainwright for most of the season after he suffered an injury while batting. Cubs manager Joe Maddon has voiced his opposition to a chance.

"I like the way this game sits," Maddon said in April. "I hope they don't change it."

The Cubs have quality options for a potential DH. While their plan is to work second-year pro Kyle Schwarber at catcher and left field, he'd be an ideal fit for the DH role if his defense doesn't show improvements in 2016. Another DH candidate in the Cubs' system is the 23-year-old Daniel Vogelbach, the team's second-round pick in 2011 who checks in at 250 pounds and finished the 2015 campaign at Double-A.

With Anthony Rizzo blocking his way at first base in the big leagues, Vogelbach doesn't appear to factor into the Cubs' immediate plans. So the DH coming to the NL could change his future with the team.

Much of the argument in favor of keeping the NL in its current state is to preserve the strategy of having a pitcher batting, while the counter to that is eliminating the often listless at-bats of a pitcher from the game.

Jake Arrieta, the NL Cy Young winner in 2015, said last April that he enjoys preparing as a hitter but isn't necessarily against change.

"It should be uniform in whatever they decide to do," Arrieta said. "I think that would eliminate some of the argument — it would be more even across the league."

Chris Emma covers the Chicago sports scene and more for CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 and like his Facebook page.