Michael Conforto
Position: Outfielder
B/T: L/R
Age: 29 (3/1/1993)
2021 Traditional Stats: 125 G, 479 PA, .232/.344/.384/.729, 14 HR, 55 RBI, 94 H
2021 Advanced Stats: 100 OPS+, 0.8 bWAR, 12.3 BB%, 21.7 SO%, 39.6 HardH%, .276 BABIP, .153 ISO
Rundown
The Mets are reportedly interested in a reunion with Michael Conforto, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. Conforto, who missed the entire 2022 season with a shoulder injury, has received a clean bill of health and is receiving interest from multiple teams, which includes the Mets, as per Rosenthal.
Further, “Michael is in Arizona, he’s doing great, he’s throwing normally again, back to full health, hitting great and we’re talking to a number of teams about him right now,” Scott Boras, Conforto’s agent, said Thursday.
After signing Brandon Nimmo to an eight-year, $162 million deal, the Mets are still searching for offense, particularly a fourth outfielder. Nimmo will man centerfield as long as he stays healthy, but New York will certainly need some help in the corner outfield positions. Mark Canha has dealt with hip tendinitis since his Oakland days, while Starling Marte underwent core muscle surgery this off-season.
Right now, Khalil Lee is the only other outfielder on New York’s 40-man roster, and besides a couple of cups of coffee in the major leagues, he’s spent the better part of his time in the organization in Triple-A.
That opens the door for a reunion with Conforto, who was a fan favorite during his time in Flushing (2015-21).
While Conforto had a disappointing walk year, in which he endured some career lows, he also enjoyed some success in New York. His best year in orange and blue came in 2019, slashing .257/.363/.494 with 29 doubles, 33 home runs and 92 RBI — all of which were career highs — in 151 games.
Rather than accepting the Mets’ qualifying offer after a down year in 2021, Conforto elected to test free agency. The 29-year-old’s market never materialized and he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in a workout during the lockout. Throughout his tenure with the Mets, Conforto established himself as a middle-of-the-order hitter with some pop.
That’s the reputation he earned for himself, as he jumped onto the scene with the Mets in 2015. With New York’s offense unable to produce prior to its eventual World Series run, the Mets turned to their former first-round pick out of Oregon State. In July of his rookie season, Conforto was promoted straight from Double-A Binghamton, slashing .270/.335/.506 with 14 doubles, nine home runs and 26 RBI in 56 games in 2015.
Following a postseason, in which he hit a pair of homers in the 2015 Fall Classic, Conforto experienced his first struggles at the MLB level. He would even spend some time in Triple-A and slashed a measly .220/.310/.414 in 109 games at the big-league level. He enjoyed a bounce-back season in 2017, as he earned his first All-Star selection and hit .279/.384/.555 with 104 hits, 20 doubles, 27 homers and 68 RBI in 109 games.
Conforto’s third season in the bigs would end prematurely as he suffered a dislocated shoulder and posterior capsule tear during an at-bat in late August 2017. After seven months, Conforto returned from his shoulder injury and remained a mainstay in the heart of New York’s order until his final season in 2021.
Prior to becoming a free agent, Conforto hit /.232./.344/.388 with 14 homers and 55 RBI in 125 games. It was a rather forgettable season, as Conforto appeared to be headed for a rather large pay. All in all, Conforto slashed .255/.356/.468 with 141 doubles, 132 homers and 396 RBI in 757 games in a New York Mets’ uniform.
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Contract
Dating back to 2021, Conforto ultimately declined the one-year, $18.4 million qualifying offer, allowing the Seattle native to hit the open market.
Per MLB Trade Rumors, the veteran is projected to sign a one-year deal worth $15 million. In addition to the Mets, the Cubs, Astros, and Mariners are the other known teams competing for the services of Conforto.
Recommendation
Conforto would provide the Mets an ability to mix and match with its corner outfielders, which is especially a plus when considering the age and health of both Marte and Canha. He also has the ability to play all three outfield positions at an above-average level, as he often showed during his Mets’ career. Additionally, Conforto could provide some help at designated hitter, a position in which the Mets struggled to get much production out of in 2022.
It’s no secret that the Mets are still looking to add more offensively. Prior to the signing of Omar Narváez, it was reported by Rosenthal and our very own Michael Mayer, on Tuesday night, that the Mets had been in contact with Boras about another one of his clients, Carlos Correa, who ultimately signed a 13-year, $350 million deal with the San Francisco Giants.
Conforto makes sense as a bounce-back candidate on a one-year deal. A price tag of only $15 million would also make sense. Still, with the Mets front office having exercised their option on Daniel Vogelbach, the New York may go in a different direction with a right-handed bat, whether that be A.J. Pollock or Adam Duvall, that can complement the 30-year-old slugger.
On the surface, Conforto’s prior success in New York, as well as his ability as a hitter and his presence in the clubhouse are more than justifiable reasons to tender him a contract. Bringing him in would fit a need and provide a nice thump in the lineup.
