Buck Showalter Indirectly Makes Case For Michael Conforto Return
To the surprise of no one, Buck Showalter aced his introductory press conference. If you’re a New York Mets fan, you heard everything you wanted to hear.
Two of the things you heard him speak about were the ability to play in New York and the players needed to win here. Here are two relevant quotes:
- “When you get it right, and there’s a lot of people living and dying what you do every day, so there is an accountability responsibility to it and it’s not for everybody. We’re going to try to find out who it’s for, who is in and who ain’t.”
- “I think one of the mistakes people make is when they come into a situation and think everything there isn’t good and needs to be changed.”
When reading these two quotes, you can’t help but think about Michael Conforto.
Conforto is a free agent after spending seven years with the Mets. In his time, he’s at least been a top 20 position player in team history. If he stayed, he would rewrite much of the Mets record books.
With him, we’ve seen a player who can play in and handle New York. More than that, he has emerged as a true leader, and he’s been able to handle the most difficult of circumstances.
When things have been good, so has Conforto. We know he can play in the big games and deliver.
While he most likely wasn’t referring to Conforto in any way, shape, or form, Showalter’s words endorsed a Conforto return. Conforto is able to handle New York, and as Showalter said, the Mets shouldn’t be making the mistake of changing for changing sake.
Now, this is all well and good, but realistically speaking Conforto is as good as gone. That happened when the Mets signed Mark Canha and Starling Marte.
That said, if there’s an avenue to bring back Conforto, the Mets should do it. The Mets need players who can handle the gauntlet of New York, and he’s one of those players. In many ways, he’s a player Showalter proverbially wants.
Canha has been better than Conforto two of the last three years and Conforto is just a platoon player easy pass.
That joke wasn’t funny
I’m with you. He can go play somewhere else.
Factual comments.
Watch out for that tumbleweed
Considering almost no one comments on your articles that’s an ironic comment.
If you want to call yourself a nobody, I’m not going to argue
Over on MMO I’ve been saying for the past week or so Conforto and Villar are good fits for return.
The stars align here. We need another left hand hitting natural outfielder, as well as middle of the order bat. By now I suspect the free agency bug is out of Conforto’s system, Mets have a need, and no one they could add beats Conforto’s character and emotional steward of the team.. I think a 3-year deal is fair….no higher than Q.O. AAV x 3. I find it hard to believe that Conforto isn’t itching to return after seeing all the Mets have done in a month.
Also sign Villarto 2-year deal. His scrappy versatility, above average speed, switch hitting with some pop, plus capacity to start long term in the event of Lindor injury, is nice fit in reunion.
Mets then have a very solid, versatile offense and defense, lots of mixing and matching that Eppler likes, and Buck can rotate across 162. The projected Active Roster is hard-nosed, blue collar with the exception of Cano.
I think the Mets should consider trading Dom. I don’t see the fit. Guillorme doesn’t either but he has minor league option. If Dom still does, that’s a touch call what to do for his sake.
Bench
Outfielder – rotated in
Davis – Primary RH DH
Nido
Villar/McNeil rotated in
Cano – Primary LH DH
This is a well-balanced 13 for active roster. Solid across the board with the exception of offense at catcher which needs improvement.
Then sign Carlos Rondon for #3 starter, two lefty relievers, then work on starting pitching and AAA positional depth for call up.
If they can make it work, I would do it.
The only thing I’d caution is they need Guillorme’s glove and pinch hitting ability.
What an odd comment you on drugs?
You’re running out of trolling material.
I agree.
Conforto is the best FA option to sign. He’s a needed left-handed bat to hit behind Alonso. Conforto had a lousy season last year. He is likely to improve and approach his average year hitting if not surpass it in 2022. No other FA who is affordable fits the needs that the Mets require. Yes, the OF will be overcrowded if the Mets do sign Conforto;. But that could lead to Nimmo going to the A’s for the needed LH-SP in Sean Manaea. Then with another signing or two, to add to the bullpen, we would be set.
I would rather Nimmo, who I think is better than Conforto.
It’s just another reason the Canha signing annoyed me.
Mets aren’t trading Nimmo….they actually want to extend him and he’s interested.
Furthermore, it makes no sense to trade their best on base, and fastest player. And trading him defeats the purpose of resigning Conforto – Mets need to be 4 deep in bona fide big league outfielders for the versatility, mix and match, and periodic rest the Mets intend to give their players.
Nor does it make sense for the A’s to trade for someone who’s free agent after the season.
The in-house outfield depth the Mets have on the 40 are Khalil Lee and Nick Plumber. Good athletes but unproven. They’re potential call ups in the event of injury. And one or the other should make the opening day roster if Mets don’t add another lefty hand hitting outfielder. Mets are trying to win a championship. Rotating one or the other into the outfield is risky and not ideal under the circumstances unless someone has great spring in approach and hard hit barrels in the air. Letting either rot on the bench is contraindicated for development, and I don’t think Dom should be playing outfield. Dom really isn’t a fit.
I actually like Nick Plumber. Was first round pick. Mets signed him to big league contract even though hasn’t played in the majors. He reworked his swing last season, and even held a paid swing clinic event several days ago. There’s video of him in his Twitter account which can be found in the tweet proceeding the info for his event.
https://twitter.com/nplum11
Video of him smashing homers this past season in the Cardinals system. Have to roll the video in which he’s in street clothes first talking about his swing clinic event. He has fast bat, good mechanics and above average speed – 55/80. Could be a sleeper. He’s our #9 MLB Pipeline prospect. #23 pick in the 2015 draft.
I am a huge fan of grabbing former first round picks who didn’t work out. It’s the ultimate lottery ticket.
If it doesn’t work, no big deal. If it does, you get R.A. Dickey.
I agree.
There is a 0 % chance Conforto returns. The Mets don’t want him at anywhere near the price Boras is trying to get. And knowing Boras he will get it. I’m quite happy to let someone else over pay him.
Conforto will prove to be a bargain
Mets should have kept Conforto. One bad year (hitting wise) shouldn’t be the reason he got the boot. McNeil hasn’t been that great for a few years
I agree comforto should not be one of those Mets in history that has gone to another team and became a hall a fame player. Do we forget Nolan Ryan
Do not preach Ryan i have been a mets fan since 1962 and Dodger fan before that. We traded Seaver. However we got Piazza, Hernandez, Carter, Clendenon, Agee in trades all leading to World Series.
Again, there is a 0 % chance Conforto makes the hall of fame. He has yet to have a single hall of fame year and he’s closing in on 30. It is totally unrealistic to have aspirations of Conforto being in the hall of fame. That was a ridiculous statement.
It’s not unrealistic at all. We’ve seen it happen previously
Comforto had seven years to prove his worth to the Mets. He is not a 25 to 30 million a year player. He hasn’t met expectations. I don’t want him anywhere near this team for the money he’s asking for. Good riddance!
People spewed the same nonsense about Wheeler, and this will end up the same way.
I think it’s a mistake letting conforto go, his off year last year was and most likely is the situation of his soroundings. The leadership that’s been in place allowed a take over of an over paid ss and his p.r. buddies to bring in a very unprofessional clubhouse. There’s no doubt in my mind he will have a much better year if not a career year now we have leadership that will keep the over paid ungrateful players in line and from dictating the negatives in the locker room.
Wheeler pitcher is not Conforto hitter. Conforto is a good glove and arm. Mets need it but NOT if his production is what it has been.
Wheeler was a collassal blunder. Conforto will not be. MUCH RATHER HAVE KRIS BRYANT.
NEED PEN ARMS NEED ANOTHER QUALITY STARTER NOT SURE THEY HAVE IT YET.
NOT SURE THE PEN IS SOUND WITH DIAZ.
Conforto is history move on – The shortened year IS NOT ANY INDICATION OF TALENT. Many players were out arms not in shape etc.
Conforto is going to be great next year.
Mets didn’t leave conforto, he was offered an option to sign for one more year and he declined. Outfield is set, there is no point on getting conforto with the awful year he had. Mets need right now is another arm, bullpen and I hope Kris Bryan at 3B.
That’s a ridiculous statement and a complete lack of understanding of what negotiations mean.
Tell me what are you going to do with another outfielder? Mets are set and have enough power and speed in the outfield. Another team could take him. He didn’t want another year to prove himself and get a contract from the Mets at the end of 2022.
Oh, so you just ran to the comments without reading the article.
Thanks
Hey, it’s not going to happen and like the article says zero chance.
Should have kept Conforto. Better player then you all think.
How could Conforto ever make the hall of fame? He would need 6 crazy years, and he’s never had 1 year like that. Look at players who didn’t make the hall… Albert Belle and Don Mattingly. Check those stats compared to Conforto. Omg.
Conforto has the ability to rip through his prime posting huge numbers, especially with a more analytically advanced organization.
You’re Mattingly comparison is laughable because that was a guy whose career was over at 34
If Conforto’s next 10 seasons equal Bryce Harper’s first 10, Conforto’s still 15-16 WAR short of the average Hall of Fame Right Fielder’s bWAR of 71.1
Conforto: 15.7 bWAR heading into age 29 season.and MLB season #8.
Harper. 40.1 bWAR heading into age 28 season and MLB season #11.
I like Conforto and Conforto likes himself too, but I strongly doubt Conforto thinks there’s a spot for him in Cooperstown someday. And if any team believed that, they’d be lining up to sign him to a 10-year, 300 mil contract. I think a 3/55-60 mil deal from the Mets is fair. Sign Conforto and trade Smith. Khalil Lee, Plummer and even Jeff Mangum are depth options with some tools on both sides of the ball. Mangum needs to first play in AAA, but could help later in the season if needed.