Michael Conforto signs with the San Francisco Giants on a two-year $36 million deal. It does include an opt-out after the first season. The deal will be made official with a successful physical. Conforto missed all of last season following right shoulder surgery.
Giants Planned on Spending
The Giants certainly let everyone know that during the off-season, they planned on spending money on several free agents. Their first deal was Mitch Haniger who agreed to a $43.5 million, three-year contract. Then they added pitchers Sean Manaea, who signed a two-year, $25 million contract, and Taylor Rogers on a three-year, $33 million deal.
Another deal that did not get much publicity was pitcher Ross Stripling signing a two-year, $25 million deal.
Surgery in 2022
Conforto’s season ended before it started in 2022. He was a free agent looking for a big contract but injured himself in January and underwent surgery on his right shoulder in April and he missed the entire season. He was assured he would be ready for Spring Training 2023 and with the Giants signing it appears he has recovered.
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Which Conforto They Will Get
The question now is which Michael Conforto will the Giants get? The one who from 2017-2020 as a member of the New York Mets played in 467 games and hit 97 home runs, or the one who slumped in 2021 to hit .232 and posted his lowest OPS, and really never looked comfortable at the plate.
Talented Outfield for 2023
Michael Conforto signs with the San Francisco Giants and they should have a talented, experienced outfield for 2023 with Haniger and Conforto playing the corner spots, and the ever-versatile Mike Yastrzemski will play centerfield. All three have the potential to hit at least 25 home runs and provide some veteran leadership.
An interesting note is that with the defensive shift change starting this season, all three players will certainly benefit from the change and could well lead to a higher on-base percentage and batting average.
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Frustration in 2022
After a very successful 2021 in which they won 107 games, the most in MLB, expectations were high for 2022 and most predictors had them in the World Series. However, frustration set in July and August when they went 21 and 34 and finished at 81-81 for a third-place finish in the NL West.
May Not Be a Big Name
As Michael Conforto signs with the Giants, it may not seem like a big deal when they wanted Aaron Judge and lost out, and they had Carlos Correa agree on a deal and lost him. Conforto is not Judge. But he has delivered strong consecutive years for the Mets before hurting his shoulder. The Conforto deal may not be the biggest name signing, but he is a potentially big signing. The Giants have delivered with their free-agent signings and they may not be done yet.
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Michael Conforto, Aaron Judge, Carlos Correa, Mike Yastrzemski, Sean Manaea, Mitch Haniger, Taylor Rogers, Ross Stripling
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