Last night in Los Angeles, Mets GM Sandy Alderson told reporters that the team has considered promoting outfielder Michael Conforto but that it’s unlikely that it will happen in the near future.
“At this point, he’s still in Binghamton and I would expect him to be over there for the near term,” Alderson said.
“I don’t want everybody to go out and write that Conforto is coming up here next week. You asked me a question about whether it’s been discussed and it has.”
It sounds like Conforto was being considered as were a number of other options which I’m certain included Travis Taijeron, Alex Castellanos and maybe even Brandon Nimmo to a much lesser degree.
“One of the things we did the other day was try to explore all types of possibilities. How do we change things up a little bit, with the use of our players we have currently, bringing up other players, the possibility of trade acquisitions?”
“We’ve looked at a variety of different things. So I wouldn’t say anything is off the table.”
On Friday, Joel Sherman of the NY Post argued that it’s time for the Mets to call up the team’s top hitting prospect .
Conforto, the 10th overall pick in last year’s draft, has been on fire in Double-A this year with a .327 average and a .933 OPS.
“The Mets are worried that promoting Conforto now would set him up to be a savior. That is lots of pressure, potentially devastating if he fails. But I don’t buy that. Plenty of top young hitters have been promoted this year and no one thinks any who hit potholes — such as Byron Buxton or Joey Gallo — is permanently scarred.”
“The Mets outfield has a cumulative .689 OPS. If you think Conforto can provide even a .700 or .725 OPS, then he is an upgrade. And maybe he is a savant hitter who will be able to excel at any level.”
Thoughts from Brian
With the underwhelming options the Mets have on the bench and in Triple-A, Conforto is the best remaining option. The lineup is in dire need of help, and Conforto is someone who can handle the adjustment to the majors. He’s a very advanced college hitter.
I also think the concerns about rushing his development are extremely overblown. If his confidence is so easily crushed by failing, then it’s hard to imagine him succeeding in the big market of New York anyway.
Thoughts from Joe D.
I completely disagree with the mounting groundswell to bring Michael Conforto up, a top prospect who has shined thus far in his pro career, but has only 30 games above Class-A.
I’ve already seen enough of these knee-jerk reactions this season that I’ve cared to see. I’m not sure I can handle another one. Both Kevin Plawecki and Dilson Herrera were each ranked ahead of Conforto on every prospect ranking entering this season. We heard the same clamoring for them earlier this season.
Herrera batted .195 and soon found himself back in Triple-A and Plawecki is batting .215 and will soon join him. And these two at least had some time in Triple-A which Conforto has yet to do.
And besides, Conforto has been coming back to earth lately and is 9-for-39 in his last ten games with nine strikeouts.
We’ve got to stop this incessant obsession with leaning on our top hitting prospects to salvage our season. Don’t we already have enough minor league talent and Quad-A players on our roster?
What this team lacks is true major league talent, not more kids who have yet to show they are MLB ready. That’s on Sandy Alderson and Fred Wilpon, not Michael Conforto.
