Michael Conforto’s brief tenure with the Los Angeles Dodgers could be coming to an end.
Conforto, whose struggles at the plate have confounded the Dodgers, could be released in the next week, according to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal.
Conforto has played 115 games, starting 102, but has been a black hole in the Dodgers batting order. He has slashed .187/.295/.322 with just nine home runs and 44 runs scored, by far the worst rates of his 10-year major-league career.
The Dodgers are 75-57 and sit one game ahead of the San Diego Padres atop the National League West.
Why Could The Dodgers Cut Michael Conforto?
Conforto’s continued play is one of the stains against manager Dave Roberts this year. Though, in fairness to Roberts, LA’s injury-riddled roster has forced him to run out Conforto every day.
But with Kiké Hernández, Tommy Edman, Max Muncy and Hyeseong Kim all set to return from injury in the next month, Conforto’s days could be numbered, which is what Rosenthal reported Monday.
The pending returns of the injured players will jeopardize the roster spot of Michael Conforto, whom the Dodgers signed last offseason to a one-year, $17 million contract,” Rosenthal wrote.
Releasing Conforto and eating the rest of his contract could open a lot of options for Roberts. It could prompt Teoscar Hernández’s return to his primary position, left field, especially when Edman returns, since he could play center field.
Andy Pages, who is second on the team in home runs (23) and tied for third in RBIs (75) with Freddie Freeman, could then go back to his natural position, right field.
Fortunately for Conforto, Edman is likely still a few weeks away from returning, according to Roberts.
“Tommy is running, he’s going to hit in a group today, and so the hitting part of it has been fine, getting better, but it’s more of the mobility piece for Tommy,” Roberts said before LA’s 7-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday. “So he’s a little bit behind, but it’s some time early September for him too. So he’s trending.”
But Conforto shouldn’t get too comfortable. Kiké Hernández returned from the injured list Monday, and the super-utility player very well could at least cut into Conforto’s playing time. Though it isn’t his primary position, Kiké has played 132 games in left in his career and could spell Conforto especially against left-handed pitching.
Plus, Kim could also play in center field, which could again push Teoscar to left and Pages to right. Kim is expected to return before Edman, potentially within the next week.
Could Michael Conforto Stay On The Dodgers?
Perhaps the calendar is Conforto’s best friend, since rosters will expand in less than a week. Though they only expand to 28 players, not the full 40 players of yesteryear, that still makes two more spots available for a left-handed bat.
Plus, Conforto may have shown signs of coming out of his year-long offensive slump Monday. He went 2 for 4 with a pair of doubles and a run scored on Pages’ sixth-inning homer.
The Dodgers could elect to keep Conforto on their active roster but not play him as much except as a potential power-hitting lefty bat off the bench. Yet, even that may not be worth it, since Conforto is 0 for 10 with two walks in 12 plate appearances as a pinch hitter this year.
Dodgers Could Cut Ties With Struggling $17 Million Outfielder as Injured Players Return: Insider