Dodgers sign Michael Conforto

The Dodgers have agreed to a deal with an outfielder Michael Confortoaccording to a report from MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez adds that Conforto’s deal with LA is a one-year pact worth $17 million.

Conforto, 32 in March, was selected by the Mets tenth overall in the 2014 draft and emerged as a hitter for the club early in his career. In his first six seasons in the big leagues, Conforto slashed an incredible .259/.358/.484 with a wRC+ of 128. Conforto made an All-Star appearance, hit 118 homers in 632 games and established himself as one of the best young offensive players in NL. Unfortunately, however, Conforto was dogged by shoulder issues early in his career that came to a head after a poor 2021 season (104 wRC+). Conforto declined the qualifying offer and entered free agency in line for a solid payday, but required surgery during the 2021-22 lockout and ultimately did not sign a contract for the 2022 season while he recovered.

Since then, Conforto has been part of the corner outfield mix in San Francisco. He has avoided further shoulder issues while with the Giants, but hasn’t quite reached the heights he managed offensively during his days in Queens. In two seasons with the club, Conforto slashed just .238/.322/.418 with a 105 wRC+ in 255, a number generally consistent with his final year with the Mets. That lack of offense made Conforto sufficiently useless to the Giants that they entertained trade offers for him this summer, though no deal ultimately came together and Conforto remained in San Francisco.

While his time with the Giants may suggest that slightly better-than-league-average offensive production is the new normal for Conforto, one major confounding factor gives cause for optimism that he could take a step forward with Los Angeles: he has struggled to a .231/. 309/.365 slash line within the strikeout-suppressing confines of Oracle Park throughout his career. This year in particular, Conforto managed just an 83 wRC+ at home versus a much more robust 133 wRC+ on the road. During the two years Conforto has been a Giant, Oracle Park has been the second-worst park in baseball for strikeouts, behind only T-Mobile Park in Seattle. Dodger Stadium, meanwhile, ranks right around the league average as the 17th best park in the majors for offense.

While the Dodgers certainly hope Conforto unlocks something closer to the form he showed throughout his 20s in New York with them this year, even the 105 wRC+ he’s offered over the past three seasons would help with strengthening the club’s lackluster outfield mix. Dodgers outfielders combined for a wRC+ of just 101 last year, a number that is drastically improved by contributions from Teoscar Hernandez and Mookie Betts. Hernandez is currently a free agent, however, and while Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that the Dodgers remain in him even after signing Conforto, there is no guarantee he will be in a Dodgers uniform in 2025. With Betts ticketed for an infield role next season, that left the Dodgers with a expected outfield on Tommy Edman, James Outmanand Andy Page for next season. Pages’ 100 wRC+ led that trio in 2024, and even a relatively mediocre season for Conforto would be a massive upgrade over Outman’s awful 54 wRC+ in 53 games last year.

More on the way…