Last offseason, Michael Conforto was left unsigned due to an elbow injury he had suffered during the lockout.
After the New York Mets acquired Mark Canha and Starling Marte, the 29-year-old no longer had a spot with the team.
As a result, Conforto sat out the 2022 season, but could be a valuable asset for a team looking to add a left-handed bat in 2023.
Conforto hit just .232 during the 2021 regular season, but still managed to hit 14 home runs and drive in 55 runs.
A team that could use another left-handed bat is the San Diego Padres, who recently lost Josh Bell to the Cleveland Guardians.
On Twitter, ESPN’s Buster Olney mentioned the Padres as a potential fit for Conforto, citing the team’s need for a left-handed bat and corner outfielder, plus the fact that like Xander Bogaerts, who signed yesterday, Conforto is a client of Scott Boras.
A great potential fit for the Padres: Michael Conforto. Left-handed hitter, corner OF, and like Xander Bogaerts, a Scott Boras client. Could hit sixth or seventh or eighth in that lineup and do major damage if healthy.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 8, 2022
Conforto Could Be A Target For The Padres
The Padres won 89 games in 2022 and earned the second Wild Card spot in the National League.
They fell short in the NLCS against the Philadelphia Phillies.
But the addition of Conforto would be a great one for a team looking to add a lefty bat.
There are also other left-handed bats on the market that could help the Padres, such as Michael Brantley, Andrew Benintendi, Conforto’s former Mets teammate Brandon Nimmo, Joey Gallo, and Matt Carpenter.
Conforto might be the best option though.
He might come at a cheaper price than somebody like Nimmo or Benintendi, too.
He would also obviously add some extra depth to an already stacked lineup.
NEXT: The Padres Have An All-Time Core In Their 2023 Lineup