Veteran LHB gets one year, $17 million from LA, according to reports
The first unofficial night of the winter meetings brought news of a left-handed outfielder signing with the Dodgers. No, not that one. Michael Conforto has reportedly agreed to terms with the Dodgers, per multiple reports.
Mark Feinsand of MLB.com was first with the news, and Alden González of ESPN reported the pact as well, addding that Conforto would get $17 million for one year. Ken Rosenthal at The Athletic reported the deal as “believe to be in the $17 million range.”
Conforto hit .237/.309/.450 with a 116 OPS+, 20 home runs, and 27 doubles in 130 games in 2024 with the Giants in the second season of a two-year deal. He missed the 2022 season after right shoulder surgery.
The left-handed batter a career .257/.359/.479 hitter with a 128 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers, though he had just a 102 wRC+ against right-handers in 2024. Conforto turns 32 in March
The Dodgers currently only have 14 position players on the 40-man roster before Conforto, and with four catchers in that group they effectively only had 12 position players to make up the active roster prior to the winter meetings. That’s a long way of saying that they needed to add multiple players, with outfield a huge need especially if Mookie Betts is going to move back to the infield in 2025.
In other words, signing Conforto shouldn’t impede the Dodgers from also bringing back the right-handed hitting Teoscar Hernández, if they are so inclined. Rosenthal reported they are still in on Hernández, for what it’s worth.