The 2025 Major League Baseball season may be remembered as Andrew Friedman’s free agency debacle. The Dodgers President of Baseball Operations guaranteed more than $480,000,000 to 10 free agents during the 2024-25 Hot Stove season.
- Pitchers: Clayton Kershaw, Tanner Scott, Blake Snell, Blake Treinen, and Kirby Yates,
- Outfielders: Michael Conforto and Teoscar Hernández
- Utility players: Tommy Edman, Kike Hernández, and Hyeseong Kim
As Dodgers fans know, assorted surgeries, injuries, and long rehab periods have precluded many of the free agents from contributing on the field for extended periods. Injuries happen, it is part of the game and business of baseball.
But, there is one free agent who has simply failed to come close to meeting average performance expectations – left fielder Michael Conforto.
(ESPN)
Using Fangraphs’ salary equivalent of $8M for each one WAR (Wins Above Replacement), Conforto hasn’t been statistically worth more than $12M since the 2020 season. Why Friedman felt it necessary to guarantee $17M to Conforto is head-scratching worthy. And, in retrospect, it could now be considered a horrible signing. A mistake that the Dodgers seem unwilling to admit.
To date, Conforto has 367 plate appearances and his wRC+ is 16% below ML average. He is also a below average defender and base runner. Perhaps he would be better value to the team in a platoon role? Nope! His offensive splits are reversed – he actually does better against southpaw pitchers.
The Dodgers have a young player (27 years old) at their Triple-A team in Oklahoma City who has performed exceptionally well, lefty-hitting Ryan Ward, who leads the Pacific Coast League in home runs (28), runs batted in (103), and wRC+ (139). He is hitting better than .300 and striking out 20% of his plate appearances.
(MLB.com)
What are the Dodgers waiting for?
Whatever the reason, it gives the appearance of insanity – continuing to do the same things over and over again and expecting a different outcome. Keeping Conforto in the lineup seems a disservice to Ward, the team, and Dodgers fans.
Perhaps the team wants to wait until MLB rosters expand to 28 players on September 1 before adding a possible replacement for Conforto?
Are we on countdown for an upgrade in left field?
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