10 MLB teams that should sign free agent Michael Conforto
Free agent Michael Conforto is still on the market, nearly a week after the 2022 MLB season has started. Part of it was because he injured his shoulder during the lockout but, in reality, he probably should have accepted the qualifying offer from the New York Mets at the beginning of the offseason.
But since he turned it down, any team that were to sign him would have to sacrifice a draft pick (unless the New York Mets re-signed him). But, when healthy, Michael Conforto is worth it and there are at least 10 MLB teams that could use his bat in the outfield or as a DH.
1) The Boston Red Sox could use Michael Conforto
The Boston Red Sox are one of at least two teams that have reached out to Michael Conforto, according to Mike Rodríguez of Univision and they have reached out for good reason.
Conforto, a primary right fielder, is a way better hitter than Jackie Bradley, Jr. In 134 games for Milwaukee last season, Bradley had an OPS+ of 34. Conforto had a down season in 2021 and he had an OPS+ of 101. From 2017 through 2020, his OPS+ was 134.
Bradley is a better defender than Conforto but if they are so concerned with Conforto’s defense, they could use Bradley as a late-inning defensive replacement. Even then, Conforto has -5 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) since 2019. Not great by any stretch but it’s not abominable.
2) Cleveland Guardians
The Cleveland Guardians are the other team that Mike Rodríguez has said that has reached out to Michael Conforto and his agent, Scott Boras.
While Steven Kwan has been phenomenal, they still need some offensive help in the outfield, even if Kwan plays well throughout the year. The Guardians’ offense from their outfield has been atrocious for two decades now so it’s about time they a) spend money on free agents to help the players they have extended and b) get somebody who has a proven bat in the outfield.
3) Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies have a lot of outfielders so there isn’t a direct fit for him there (unless they trade an outfielder or make one a full-time DH, which they won’t and probably shouldn’t do). But Michael Conforto would be another big upgrade to the team, a team that upgraded their offense this offseason.
They also got a draft pick from the Red Sox when they lost Trevor Story to them in free agency so that aspect would be a wash.
There are few more reasons why they should sign him but you can read more about that here.
4) San Diego Padres
What did the San Diego Padres do to help their offense this offseason? They added Luke Voit to their everyday lineup and Jorge Alfaro and Matt Beaty to their bench. Not exactly adding Tony Gwynn or Steve Garvey to the team, especially when Fernando Tatis, Jr. is out for an extended period (again).
They have corner outfielders Jurickson Profar and Wil Myers and Voit has been the primary DH with Eric Hosmer at first. Hosmer has started off the season well but if the recent past is any indication, they should bench, trade, or DFA him, move Myers to first base and have Conforto play right field.
Conforto would add more power and he would add a much-needed left-handed bat in their lineup as well.
5) Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Angels have Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon, and Jared Walsh. The rest of the team is either a) always injured or b) a Triple-A player. That includes the corner outfield.
Brandon Marsh (84 OPS+ in 2021) and Jose Rojas (82 OPS+) in the corner outfield spots are included in this. Conforto has way more proven experience than either of them. Rojas has been a power bat in the minors in the past so he might get the nod over Marsh.
Either way, Conforto would be an offensive upgrade (as of now) over either of them.
6) Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves will be getting Ronald Acuna, Jr. back soon to play right field over Eddie Rosario but their DH is Alex Dickerson.
Both Rosario and Dickerson are decent but Conforto is the better bat of the three and, defensively, he is better than Dickerson too.
The Braves already have a good offense but adding Conforto would be the frosting on the cake.
7) Milwaukee Brewers
What is there to say about the Milwaukee Brewers? Great pitching staff and I mean great. But already in 2022, they cannot hit to save their lives.
They are hitting .202 as a team to start the season and they got shutout by the Orioles on Monday. I repeat: The Orioles. That’s embarrassing.
Christian Yelich has started to hit but we have to see if that will stay as he struggled in 2020 and 2021 but adding Michael Conforto would jump-start the offense.
He would be an offensive upgrade over Hunter Renfroe in right field so they should really consider him.
8) Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers added Corey Seager and Marcus Semien to help their offense this season but they are still a fourth-place team with average to below-average corner outfielders.
Conforto is superior to Kole Calhoun in right (offensively and defensively) and it’s not even a contest with Brad Miller, who had played 38 career games in left field before this season.
9) San Francisco Giants
Since Barry Bonds left the team after the 2007 season, the San Francisco Giants have not had a great offense in the outfield. Even when they did (like in 2014), it never lasted more than a year or so.
In fact, since 2008, the Giants have had a new left fielder for each and every Opening Day.
They have Joc Pederson now but even with him in left and Mike Yastrzemski in right, they still don’t have a great offense. Conforto has played more in right so the best option would probably be to move Yastrzemski to left and Pederson to the bench or as an occasional DH.
10) New York Mets
Why not return to where it all started?
The New York Mets have added some players in the outfield but there still is the DH spot and Conforto would be a better option than Robinson Cano. And, unfortunately, Brandon Nimmo is always injured so it’s just a matter of time until he’s injured and Starling Marte has to move over to center field.
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Conforto, then, would play right field. They don’t have to give up the draft pick either since they would play re-signing him.