The Mets should extend Michael Conforto. Let’s just get that out of the way.
Conforto, 27, has been the Mets best position player in 2020 – he leads them in bWAR (2.1) and fWAR (1.9). He’s hitting .322/.412/.515 with 12 doubles, 9 home runs, and 31 RBIs. One of the big keys for Conforto this season has been his ability hit left-handing pitching, he has an .874 OPS in a 84 plate appearances (that leads league for lefty hitter vs LHP).
Let’s be honest, Conforto has been good for years now despite backlash from Mets fans. From 2017-2019, Conforto averaged 3.7 fWAR per season. That’s what people in the business call good – maybe not the stardom some had hoped for, but good nonetheless. And it’s generally smart to pay good player to play on your team and not let them go without a fight. (See Zack Wheeler).
Conforto told reporters on Wednesday that he hasn’t had any extension conversations with the Mets this season outside of a really brief convo in the spring. Though, he would certainly like to stay in Flushing, “I love it here. This is everything I know.”
The sweet left-handed swinger would be a free agent after the the 2021 season. “This is everything I know, and I have said it before. We’ll see what the future brings.”
Conforto was drafted in the first round of the 2014 draft while Sandy Alderson was the Mets GM, and Sandy is likely returning to the Mets once Steven Cohen is approved as the owner in Flushing.
Conforto is a career .260/.359/.485 in 631 games for the Mets over six seasons.
Cohen and Alderson giving Conforto an extension would a great way to start the new regime.
