Position: OF
B/T: L/R
Age: 31 (03/01/1993)
2024 Traditional Stats: 299 PA (80 G), .226/.298/.415/.712, 10 HR, 17 2B, 40 RBI, 27 BB, 72 SO
2024 Advanced Stats: o.7 bWAR, 105 OPS+, .189 ISO, 24.1 SO%, 9.0 BB%, 45.2 HardHit%, 89.8 EV
Salary: one-year, $18 million ($6.3 million remainder of 2024)
Jul 24, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; San Francisco Giants left fielder Michael Conforto (8) is greeted in the dugout after scoring a run in the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Michael Conforto might have a full circle moment in his career this deadline.
The Seattle native was drafted by the Mets with the 10th overall pick in 2014 and exploded onto the scene. He made the majors the very next year, helped the Mets push their way into the playoffs, and then hit two homers in a World Series game.
Despite a strong start, Conforto eventually found his way to the West Coast eight years later. Sandwiched in between was a slump in 2016 that sent him up and down between leagues, an All-Star season in 2017 that ended with a shoulder injury, and four years of underperforming teams that never played in October.
All that, and a turned-down nine-figure contract extension, led to Conforto’s departure. He signed with the Giants on a two year, $36 million deal and has been a solid player. In 205 total games, Conforto has slashed .234/.320/.396 with 25 homers and 98 RBIs.
Injury has still followed Conforto, however, in his tenure with the Giants. The right-hamstring has caused Conforto to miss time during both the 2023 and 2024 seasons, limiting him to 125 games in 2023 and 80 games in 2024.
Conforto recently hit the injured list this season in May, missing two weeks due to the same right-hamstring injury.
The hamstring injury has clearly impacted Conforto’s production. Before the injury, he was slashing .280/.331/.490 with seven homers. Since being reinstated on June 3, Conforto is slashing .165/.262/.331 with only three homers.
Acquiring Conforto won’t be hard. The only team connected to the outfielder is the Mets and the lefty bat is making $6.3 million for the remainder of the year.
That’s a hefty sum for a league-average hitter who plays below-average defense. And add the fact the Giants want to clear space in their outfield for top prospect Luis Matos, and the Mets could send a non-prospect to acquire their former player.
Mets receive: Michael Conforto
Giants receive: Wilfredo Lara (High-A Brooklyn)
Bringing Conforto back to Queens should be a fallback for the Mets. And only if certain requirements are met.
Firstly, the Giants need to add money to the deal if the Mets are going to pull the trigger. According to MLBTradeRumors, acquiring Conforto would cost the Mets an additional $13 million in luxury tax penalties if they absorbed the remainder of the contract. Even for Steve Cohen, that’s not worth it.
Secondly, the Mets shouldn’t set the bar at average. If a Jesse Winker or Brent Rooker is available and won’t cost multiple top 10 prospects, the Mets should be involved with them. Conforto provides a solid left-handed bat, but he’s not the same player he was in the beginning of his career.
It’s a toss-up for me. I wouldn’t be ecstatic if Conforto were brought back, but he would at least give the Mets an upgrade over DJ Stewart in the outfield.
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