Astros Showing Interest In Michael Conforto
The Astros have been in search of a lefty-hitting outfielder for a lot of the offseason and have proven some current curiosity in Michael Conforto, reports Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. McTaggart provides that Houston’s possibilities of buying and selling infielder Isaac Paredes have “diminished” not too long ago. Houston has reportedly been exploring the opportunity of including one other lefty bat by the use of a Paredes commerce.
Conforto, 33 on March 1, is coming off a career-worst season with the Dodgers, whereby he slashed .199/.305/.333 in 486 journeys to the plate. It’s the primary decidedly below-average offensive efficiency within the massive league profession of the 2014 first-round decide and 2017 All-Star. That mentioned, Conforto’s profession has been on a downward trajectory since a shoulder damage brought on him to overlook the 2022 season.
Since coming back from surgical procedure, Conforto has performed in three seasons with the Giants and Dodgers, hitting a mixed .225/.316/.390 in 1444 plate appearances. He nonetheless attracts loads of walks (10.5% in that point) however hits extra grounders and weak fly-balls than he used to, and his line-drive fee has dipped significantly (22.4% from 2015-21; 17.8% since). Conforto has usually hit righties effectively and been nearer to common in left-on-left matchups, however he is been higher towards lefties in every of the previous two seasons (albeit in a small pattern of 184 left-on-left plate appearances).
Given the lackluster general efficiency since Conforto’s shoulder surgical procedure and final season’s career-worst displaying, the worth tag to signal him will not be prohibitive. At greatest, he’d command a low-cost one-year deal, however provided that spring coaching is underway and curiosity would not seem to have been strong all through the winter, Conforto might additionally merely signal a minor league deal and head to massive league camp with the Astros.
Yordan Alvarez is the one established left-handed hitter in Houston’s lineup. Young outfielders Zach Cole and Joey Loperfido are within the combine for Opening Day roster spots however have minimal main league expertise. Broadly talking, the outfield in Houston is somewhat unsettled, no matter participant handedness. Jake Meyers is locked into middle discipline, however the remainder of the image appears pretty up for grabs. The staff desires Alvarez to spend extra time at DH than in left discipline this 12 months. Cam Smith had an enormous spring final 12 months and an enormous begin to his rookie season earlier than fading significantly because the 12 months went on. Cole struck out at a 35% clip within the minors. Loperfido posted roughly league-average offense with the Blue Jays’ Triple-A membership (earlier than being traded again to Houston final week). Former first-rounder Brice Matthews is a center infielder by commerce however has begun a transition to the outfield as a result of Houston’s crowded infield combine.
The Astros have explored trades of Paredes all through the winter. His standing because the beginning third baseman was upended after they reacquired Carlos Correa eventually 12 months’s commerce deadline. Paredes may also play first base, however that is manned by Christian Walker in Houston. He’s owed $40MM over the subsequent two seasons and unsurprisingly has not garnered a lot commerce curiosity at that fee. An supreme state of affairs would possibly see the ‘Stros discover a commerce that sends Paredes out in alternate for a veteran nook outfielder, however they’ve come up empty regardless of appreciable effort, so it isn’t particularly shocking to see them taking a look at some low-cost free agent options of their quest so as to add a left-handed bat.
