The Mets have been in touch with the Giants concerning Michael Conforto, experiences Mike Puma of the New York Publish (X hyperlink). The Publish’s Jon Heyman wrote final evening that the Mets have been wanting into the outfield market and most well-liked so as to add a left-handed hitter.
There aren’t many apparent choices on that entrance. The Marlins are prone to deal heart fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr., however a commerce with the Mets could possibly be sophisticated by the division issue. The Nationals most likely wouldn’t have any qualms about dealing impending free agent Jesse Winker throughout the NL East. Past that duo, the Giants might need the highest pair of commerce candidates amongst lefty-hitting outfielders in Conforto and Mike Yastrzemski.
In fact, the Mets are a lot acquainted with Conforto. A former tenth total decide, he hit .255/.356/.468 by components of seven seasons with the staff. Conforto represented the Mets within the 2017 All-Star Sport and was one of many higher hitters within the league between 2017-20. His manufacturing dipped in his ’21 platform season. The Mets allowed him to stroll in free company after he declined a qualifying supply. Conforto injured his shoulder whereas understanding that offseason. He underwent surgical procedure and missed all the 2022 marketing campaign. He landed in San Francisco on a two-year, $36MM free agent pact the subsequent winter.
Conforto hasn’t recaptured his peak offensive kind getting back from the damage. He has been an unexceptional hitter over his season and a half within the Bay Space. He turned in a .239/.334/.384 slash by 470 plate appearances a yr in the past. It’s an analogous story in 2024. Conforto carries a .226/.298/.415 batting line by 80 contests. His 9% stroll price is his lowest in any full season of his profession. He’s placing out at a customary 24.1% clip.
The 31-year-old has had a slight rebound in his laborious contact price and energy manufacturing. He’s slugging above .400 for the primary time in 4 years and has 10 homers throughout 299 plate appearances — the equal of a half-season of motion. That uptick in energy has include a career-low OBP, nonetheless. Conforto’s total offense is once more nearly precisely league common, as measured by wRC+. That’s on par with what he produced in his remaining season in Queens and his first yr in San Francisco.
Conforto is taking part in this yr on an $18MM wage, practically $6.3MM of which remains to be to be paid out. It’s unlikely that different groups would take the total freight. Not solely has Conforto’s total manufacturing been middling, he has been in a funk of late. He carried a .280/.331/.490 slash into June however owns a .165/.261/.331 line over his most up-to-date 145 plate appearances.
The Giants could must kick in cash and settle for a minimal prospect return in the event that they’re going to maneuver him within the subsequent few days. The Mets are paying a 110% charge on any wage they take. Absorbing all of Conforto’s remaining cash would value them upwards of $13MM together with luxurious taxes. That’s most likely not interesting even to a company that has leveraged its monetary may to tackle a pair struggling relievers, Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek, this month.
San Francisco has dropped six of its final 10 and fallen six video games under .500. They’re 5.5 video games again of the Padres for the final Wild Card spot with 5 extra groups to move within the standings. Their mediocre play popping out of the All-Star Break appears to have them positioned as sellers.