Free agent outfielder Michael Conforto will reject the Mets’ $18.4MM qualifying offer and explore the free agent market, reports Jeff Passan of ESPN (Twitter link). Should he sign elsewhere, the Mets would be entitled to draft pick compensation.
Conforto is coming off a down platform year, leading some fans to suggest he could accept the QO in hopes of re-testing free agency next winter off a better showing. Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reported in mid-September that the Mets expected Conforto to reject the offer even in spite of his atypically poor numbers, though, so today’s development comes as little surprise.
Heading into the 2021 season, Conforto looked to be one of the top position players in this year’s class. From 2019-20, he’d hit .274/.376/.499, numbers that were 35 percentage points above the league average by measure of wRC+. That placed him in the top twenty qualified hitters, seemingly making Conforto a candidate to exceed nine figures with a typical platform year.
2021 was anything but typical, though, as Conforto slumped to a .232/.344/.384 line with just 14 home runs across 479 plate appearances. Those were his worst results since 2016, but they came with a career-low 21.7% strikeout rate and batted ball numbers not too dissimilar from his marks of years past. Entering his age-29 season, Conforto looks to be a prime bounceback target for suitors, and Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports his representatives at the Boras Corporation have already heard from upwards of twelve teams during the early stages of free agency. Depending on his priority, Conforto could still look to land a solid multi-year deal and lock in some long-term security or try to top the qualifying offer value on a one-year deal with designs on hitting the market again after 2022.
Teams who sign a qualified free agent will have to surrender at least one draft pick, and potentially some international bonus pool money depending on their status as revenue-sharing recipients or whether or not they exceeded the luxury tax threshold. Last month, MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes broke down which picks each team would forfeit in so doing. As a team who neither exceeded the luxury tax threshold nor received revenue sharing in 2021, New York will receive a compensatory pick after Competitive Balance Round B (typically around 70-75 overall) in next year’s amateur draft were Conforto to sign elsewhere.
Oof
Just what every Mets fan wanted to hear. Smh
As a Yankees fan, you should probably worry about your own team’s issues rather than comment on the Mets.
um then what’s the point of these comment sections.
Last I checked, there are still baseball fans who like to comment and this is where you do it. If you are that sensitive about your team, maybe you shouldn’t be here expressing your opinions. Met fan said the same thing to me last spring. “You should worry about your Tigers”. I was happy to see that the Tigers are now organized and ascending and the Mets are still the disorganized Mets disappointing their fans once again!
I sure did. This wasn’t as atypical as MLBTR is suggesting. I deeper look at Confortos stats show that he is prone to long very bad slumps. And those slumps correlate to the Mets losing. There are a bunch of Mets players that need to be traded or just walked away from and Conforto is #1 on that list. I wish him all the best wherever he ends up, but the Mets cannot resign him. It’s been too many seasons of the same shot for this team and they need to make real changes if they want different results
csalko, I am a lifelong Met fan and I watch a lot of games. I really like Conforto as a player and as a person. You can tell he cares about the game, the team, his teammates and the fans. The guy plays hard. Plus he is a home grown guy, A good pick by Alderson out of college. All that being said you are 100% correct. He is prone to very long and bad slumps, and the slumps absolutely correlate to the slides the Mets tend to get into and their offense gets as dry as the desert.
If he gave some sort of large home grown discount to come back I would want him back and hope he could get back on track on what looked like a really good career. But alas, someone will overpay for that promise of that sweet swing becoming consistent. I hope he really does get it together and has a good career going forward but I think if he gets the contract it looks like he will get, the Mets should pass and wish him well and move in a different direction. They need to change things up and overpaying for his performance to date is not the right thing to do at the moment.
One could alter this and state that because the Mets can’t seem to win when Conforto is in a slump, he is the one player you want to keep. Add in that “he cares about the game, the team, his teammates and the fans” makes it even more so.
I would state that the Mets need to walk away from the me first guys and people that don’t lay it on the line to win. Not certain who those are, but Conforto could be a key piece for a team that wants to win.
All joking aside….
I respect Mets fans for backing their team – particularly those that have done it for years.
But it is delusional to think that this is a small speedbump and that Mr. Cohen is going to spend his way out of the current situation.
Like all professions in America, MLB has changed tremendously in the past 6-10 years. People that work in FO’s and players have different values than just money. Being a part of the Mets (or Yankees) is not that attractive to many quality people, that can get near the same money, live in a quality city for a fraction of the cost, and not be pressured everyday to make miracles while living with daily hassles.
And it’s not just quality baseball people that are leaving the large cities. The migration has been going on for more than 10 years, and keeps picking up speed. I know, I left a large market area over 10 years ago and won’t even go back to visit – and of over 100 professional people I know that lived there, I think 2 families remain……and they want out.
Cohen will spend his way to try to win.. it’s not that hard to understand.. this has been his favorite team since a kid. He ain’t just using it as a business…
@MetsFan22 The thing is, this isn’t a good thing. Spending like mad is a strategy that can leave your team in ruins. Splurging on a big FA to compliment an already strong core works, but bringing all-new FAs can have a negative impact for a variety of reasons. No one doubts Cohen’s willingness to spend, but the doubt his ability to spend smartly.
Being a fan isn’t the same as knowing how to build a winning team. Plenty of long-time Mets fans call WFAN with thoughts on how to fix the Mets. Would you want any of those people calling the shots?
At some point, the problems facing the franchise will become so obvious that even the most optimistic Mets fans won’t be able to ignore them.
Hint: It’s not about the city, though that surely factors in. In the music world, New York was once seen as a must-play locale for bands, regardless of what stage their career is in. That’s not the case now and it hasn’t been for quite a few years. Also, it isn’t necessarily that way with other big cities. Add whatever specifically might ail the Mets, and you have a tougher-than-usual time building a winner. It’ll be interesting to see how the Yankees fare in comparison.
How’d that work out for the tigers?
Detroit had an owner that wanted a winner before he died. The Tigers played great for 10 years, and while they didn’t win the big one, I will take ten fun competitive years over what KC did. They gave their fans 2 years and went back to rebuilding.
Why would anyone want to play for NYM?
It worked for the Spankees when Steinbrenner was the boss? How many championships did they win with the Boss?
Lol
Comforto may go on to a great career. We all thought so after his first few years but Comforto is streaky. Do you give a guy who just hit .232 with 14 homers 5 years at 100 million? Too many other good players available.
kingman130 mins ago
Comforto may go on to a great career. We all thought so after his first few years but Comforto is streaky. Do you give a guy who just hit .232 with 14 homers 5 years at 100 million?
================================
I’m not sure what your point is. Since no one is giving him $100M.
Former Mets outfielder Michael Conforto had become the “King of Queens,” Boras said, but “in free agency now, he’s kind of like the ace of many GMs’ hearts.” according to Boras he is lol
It has nothing to do with the Mets being an unattractive organization to play for and everything to do with the fact that the ratio of money spent to talent is just too off kilter. Players have no problem coming to the Mets, that’s a myth spread between fans. It’s just the payroll is too high and the talent too sparse. They’re too far away from being a good, balanced team.
Not far away at all
They have a young star in Alonso- the best pitcher in the game and a young star in Lindor. Baez if he stays is another young star. That’s more than most teams have to build around. They Mets have a lot of potential. They constantly get hurt but assuming they can ever stay healthy and if they add complementary players to their core they could be very good. It’s just become fun for people to pick on them because they know everyone will pile on with them.
While I agree the Mets have talent, it’s possible deGrom us never the same again. I hope I’m wrong, but I’m not automatically penciling him in as the best pitcher in bassball as I did in previous seasons. Even he is a question mark at this point.
deGrom is not the best pitcher in the game I’m sorry to be the one to tell you that Carlos. He’s 33 years old and coming off serious arm issues. He’s won under 80 games in his career and is literally entering the downturn in a pitcher’s lifespan. I wouldn’t count on him so much as he’ll probably spend a good chunk of the season riding the IL again. Alonso hits HRs and that’s about it. Lindor is a good player but once again is he as good as his contract pays him?? I’m not so sure. If I were a Met’s fan I’d be seriously concerned about that team. Conforto has basically been an average player at best over his short career and he just turned down more money than he’s worth, possibly to get the hell out of Dodge because that place sucks. If I were you I’d brace myself for another disappointing season.
DeGrom has certainly been the best pitcher in the game. Citing win totals to make a point is laughable in this day and age. Moving forward who knows where exactly he will stand but he’s been the best for a few years now, or at the very least amongst the best.
You are too much of an optimist! Alonso hit what, .260? That’s above avg for today and he improved his defense. Counting wins for a pitcher shows you are decades behind….hell…in the 70’s we knew it was as much luck as skill. And sorry…he was pitching better than anyone in BB before he got hurt. That’s usually my definition of best. Are age and injuries a concern? Sure. But DeGrom started late, so maybe he’ll have more length in his career than most pitchers
Ok, we can all agree that when on the mound, Jacob has been the best pitcher over the past couple years and that his injuries are very worrisome. If you let me bet one dollar to win ten dollars, I will take him for NL Cy Young winner in 2022. Ahead of any other one guy. But if you give me an over or under that he will make 24 starts in 2022, with even money either way, I would not know which way to bet.
Kevin Pillar is the test.
He couldn’t wait to get away.
They’re further away than the Marlins.
Under.
It’s not a myth.
@samuel
First of all most of these players would sell their soul for a few extra million $’s, first day following MLB, secondly don’t EVER compare the Mets to the Yankees in any shape, form or fashion. Last but not least, if you are defining “quality people” as pretentious individuals who live in a bubble, consider themselves intellectuals & have no clear understanding on how life really work’s I might be willing to concede that point, unbelievable.. Ahahahaha!
Aaron Rodgers, thanks for chiming in with your critical thinking. If you’re ever in the Philly area, feel free to stop by my bubble and rifle through my textbooks. Just make sure you show your vax card to security.
I have a Jeopardy question for you:
Why do we not go to NFL quarterbacks when we seek important medical advice?
“Who is Aaron Rodgers.”
I guess Cole, Lindor, Betts, etc. missed the memo. I know players are lining up for the Pirates, Royals, Rays…
For the Rays and Royals – very much so.
Maybe instead of your snarky comment, you should be thanking the people in these “non quality areas” of the country for their contributions.
I for one am sick and tired of people like yourself who claim to love capitalism, yet at every turn live off the success and hard work of people who aren’t as “good” as you.
News flash: the states of NY and CA, if on their own, would be in the top 10 economies in the world. And what happens? We’ve got red states who don’t want to collect tax revenue, so they just take it from these successful places, and then lecture them on responsibility. Just say you’re welcome and shove it.
Wow. Your grasp of economics and how taxation works is an indicator of why Democrats won’t realize why they were defeated last Tuesday.
Keep thinking that, though.
This is a mistake by Conforto. Either that or it will be a mistake by whichever team is dumb enough to sign him and give up draft compensation to do so. I’m surprised he thinks he’s worth more than that. At this point I would trust Eddie Rosario and Jorge Soler more. At least they turned their seasons around at some point. Conforto has turned into a ping hitter who doesn’t even hit all that much. Give me a guy with power and keep an extra $10 million in my pocket every year any day. The Mets finally got a win. Receiving draft pick compensation for letting a guy like Conforto who swings a bat like a wet newspaper can only help them. With the QO attached and the CBA uncertainty I wouldn’t be surprised if Conforto ends up like Dallas Keuchel or Craig Kimbrel and has to sign mid next season after the draft so teams don’t have to give up the high draft pick to get him. Chances are one of your team’s top 2 draft picks next season has more left in the tank than weak swinging Conforto does. He should’ve taken the $18 million. The only reason he didn’t is because he doesn’t trust his own ability enough to prove him worth it next season. If he did he should take a pillow contract so he can make more money after he proves himself. Since he doesn’t trust himself to make a comeback no other teams or GM’s should either.
Im surprised the Mets offered the QO and stunned that Conforto rejected it. Classic case of overvaluing oneself and underestimAting the competition. I am glad hes walkng away from the Mets. I don’t think hell ever fully recover from the nasty shoulder injury he suffered prepandemic
Who Will be the Mets right field……hmmm
Cano? McNeil? I’m not sure that was a wise move by Conforto because it probably would’ve been better for him to improve his value then hit the market without a QO, but Boras gonna Boras.
Nick Castellanos, Kris Bryant (UTL), Starling Marte, Chris Taylor (UTL), Jorge Soler, Eddie Rosario, Tommy Pham, Avisail Garcia, and Joc Pederson. Kyle Schwarber
Mets are going to steer clear of a draft pick attached free agent if possible as they will lose their first rounder from last year if they sign one of them. Can’t screw up a major screw up from last year twice. Well the Mets would do that but hopefully they don’t.
Marte would be in CF.
Marte, Bryant, Baez, Soler, Rosario, Schwarber, Duval…no draft pick attached.
I don’t think Duvall is a free agent. Isn’t it his last arbitration year
No draft pick for Avisail, Duval stays with Atlanta ball club.
Neither Cano nor McNEAL CAN PLAY RIGHT FIELD.
It will come in signing.
Cano in RF made me chuckle.
McNeil CAN play RF, in fact, he HAS.
He won’t
Why do you say that?
Cano himself just got injured rolling on the floor laughing.
Squirrel can play RF in an emergency. Cano can play RF in a softball beer league (maybe).
McNeil is better in RF than Castellanos
Since the Phillies won’t trade them Bryce Harper for 2 low-level prospects and Luis Guillorme, my guess is that Ryan Lavarnway will start there and double as a 3rd Catcher.
I wonder if Wil Myers could be a possible fit since it seems like NYM would be willing to take on as good amount salary to pay for an OF.
He’s obviously not worth the $20M still owed to him, but SD needs to clear some payroll space so maybe they send a prospect and some cash to sweeten the deal and NYM eats most of the remaining $20M and covers RF with someone who is serviceable.
Mets should trade for Myers only if the point of the deal is to acquire prospects that come with him. Myers is useful but paid at least double what he is worth.
REFSNYDER is the answer.
Hahahaha. ( a real belly laugh ).
Nick Castellanos.
He’ll give up all his value with terrible defense out there.
I would take Marte or Rosario.
Add it to list of people who want nothing to do with the Mets. LOL Mets
Was thinking the same thing.
And who has been to a World Series more recently: Mets or Brewers?
Who begged for any member of the brewers front office team to be their next GM?
Who’s next? The guy that cleans the gunk out of the popcorn machines?
It was nice to host NYM during the last series of the season.
That’s not why he’s leaving. No one has a problem playing for the Mets… that’s the stuff of talk radio… pure fan nonsense. Did they not JUST sign Lindor?
Did they not just finish almost last?
Yes they did. What’s your point? It has nothing to do with anything being discussed here.
It has to do with a pathetic organization trying to buy a championship, finishing last, and no baseball executive wanting to work for a cancerous toxic ownership group.
Which has nothing to do with players being willing to sign with the team, which is what was being discussed.
The Mets were not almost last. Nor were they in the race the last month. They are not a horrible team just a mediocre and overpaid team. And that was my “defense” of them.
He will explore the market and return
Hope not
Finally something goes right for the Mets. Conforto isn’t worth $18.4M, and now the Mets get draft pick compensation
Agreed!
Does the new cba affect draft compensation rules for this offseason? Far all ya know this might help conforto get a flier contract but if not mets dodged a bullet!
I agree. That farm needs some new players and less international shortstops.
Yea this may be a win for the team in the long and short run
I wonder how a conforto would have done if drafted by LA, Cleveland or Tampa. Who have strong player development.
Couldn’t agree more
But they won’t get a comp pick for him because no team will sign him until they don’t have to give up a comp pick for him, which is still before spring training. This is a terrible move by Conforto.
I disagree. Someone will sign Conforto and surrender a pick. Just think they’ll regret it.
As a Mets fans all I can say is good riddance
I said the same regarding Carlos Beltran’s managerial career.
I know someone is going to sign him for to much money. I just don’t see him making and improvement to the contending teams.
Why did anyone think he would stay?
Probably because he was barely average this year and could’ve used another year to rekindle his value a bit. Although I definitely understand why a player would not want to continue playing for the Mets
Last I checked, a new owner means a new attitude.
It doesn’t mean anything.
I don’t want him back. But he loves the Mets
MetsFan22 In 2020 “Conforto is just as good as Harper, and better defensively.” MetsFan22 in 2021 “I don’t want him back.”
Better late than never.
Lol
Is also turning down FO job
Great year for you 2021. See ya! Don’t let the door hit you on the way out!
Anthony Santander would be a great replacement and a tenth of the cost, well not quite, but you get the picture ️
Huh? Juan Soto is better and cheaper too. What does that have to do with the price of tea in Flushing? Like Soto, Anthony Santander is not a free agent and cannot just be had in lieu of Conforto.. And someone like Cohen can and should prefer buying players with cash instead of young prospects. Prospect capital is worth more to the Mets and their below average farm than regular old cash.
Why would Baltimore let him go?
bat only OF…good luck with that…
Honestly conforto is really not that bad in Rf , if you watch him daily he holds his own out there qnd played a great Rf this year, not saying he is a gold glover but he is no iron glove though I won’t miss his bat.
A. He is a good fielder. B. Tons of OFrs are bat only. For example, Castellanos, who is a butcher in the field.
Conforto is actually pretty darn good fielder and accurate strong arm. Not sure what you are watching with him. His problem is he isn’t flashy whether batting or in the field (little more in the field) and he is extremely streaky.
He’s not even an average OF.
Conforto going home to Seattle atleast I hope so he gets out of Queens lol.
You might wanna include that .412 BABIP from 2020 in those stats…. That helped boost those numbers by quite a bit lol
BABIP is a bs stat.
Thank God! 2 first and 2 2nd round picks
Get out of there while ya can! Would love him on my team as a rebound candidate but with our contact heavy lineup there’s no room for a guy like that.
I guess he didn’t want think too long over his decision!
There might be a strategy to that with a work stoppage possible in a matter of weeks. Boras usually drags these things out. Maybe he has a different approach this time around.
They have to accept or reject the QO by November 17th anyways and I don’t think the work stoppage is happening until the current CBA expires on December 1st.
I do think agree though that there is probably some posturing/strategy to rejecting it so quickly, even if it’s just to project confidence and make it seem like he’s definitely worth more than the QO because he rejected it so fast.
I still think and I would guess Conforto thinks someone might throw Conforto 5 years/$100M or so, but he’s probably more of a 1 year/$20M and then re-evaluate next off season type.
If he’s rejecting the $18.4M, it means he thinks he can do better on a one year deal or better on a multi-year deal and I doubt he’d turn down $18.4M to reestablish his value without draft pick compensation attached to signing him if he thought he’s only getting like 2 years/$34M or 3 years/$50M, etc.
No one will pay him $20m.
What are you thinking?
My guess is NC or KB.
Its like a Christmas day miracle. We lose one of our worst hitters, save 20 mil, and get a draft pick. McNeil moves to right field now like how he was there in 2019. Great day for met fans everywhere
The squirrel will never be the main right fielder.
Never.
You’re psychic? Or would you like to enlighten us as to your reasoning here?
He will not be a Met in 2022.
Squirrel will be a Met in 2022, but not the primary RF.
Why do you do this Dan? All your off season predictions were wrong and here you are at it again, stating uninformed opinion after uninformed opinion as if they are fact without even backing them up. I don’t think you understand how these discussions work.
I find it ridiculous that they offered him a QA, it’s even more ridiculous that he rejected it
There was indications he would reject so it was a good gamble: now they get a draft pick.
@Cosmo2 Excellent point. Smart gamble paid off. I originally thought the QO was too high and not a good move, but the Mets knew what they were doing.
Both moves make sense. He’s had a 123 OPS+ over the past 4 years, with a 3.0 bWAR/650. If the RS needed a LF, I’d be fine with him.
NYM’s fans thinking slugging is a relevant statistic.
Fans in general know that it is a relevant stat. So do experts, analysts, scouts… you’ll forgive us if we listen to them over you, eh?
Lol Mets
Why is this “lol Mets”? Just any excuse to break out that nonsense?
And it is not even MrLOL.
You can tell by the name he appears to be a Brit, the epitomy of arrogance and self-righteousness……
You don’t know your memes… And I am from flyover country USA
Bang bang
Come to Seattle we need a lefty bat to go with Kelenic 3/50 would be perfect
This doesn’t mean Conforto is gone only that he doesn’t want a 1 yr deal. This is the Mets we are talking about.. watch them sign him to a 5yr $95MM deal.
He’s gone.
Probably works in the Mets’ favor rather than Conforto’s.
Dunno why you wouldn’t take THAT kind of money and bet on yourself in an environment you are familiar with. No way he touches that kind of money nor more than a 3 year deal so its not like he’s going to get long term stabity out there…..but thats just my opinion as a baseball fan not a mets fan.
He’s got more confidence in Boras than himself !!!
Ballsy move.
Tailer made for the Yankees
Please, let him be NYY.
Makes a lot of sense for the Jays, doesn’t have to carry the offense.
Can’t imagine he wants too many years, given his age and his track record he shouldn’t want more than 2 years maybe 3 so he can hit the market again for a bigger contract
Makes zero sense for Toronto.
None, whatsoever.
Angels, you are just one unsubstantiated proclamation after another, aren’t you?
Entering his age-29 season, Conforto looks to be a prime bounceback target for suitors, and Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports his representatives at the Boras Corporation have already heard from upwards of twelve teams during the early stages of free agency.
Upwards of twelve teams, “Could you spell his last name for us? We’re making a list of who we don’t want. Thank you.”
Plenty of teams would love to have him. Probably not at the money he’s hoping for, but your low opinion of him is not shared by decision makers who see his value.
Good seasons when the Mets were inconsequential. As soon as they have a first place team he vanishes.
Probably 28 teams would want him at 1 million for 1 year. And zero teams at 5 years at 110 million. So maybe he gets a 3 to 4 year deal with a 12-13 million AAV with plenty of opt outs. If I was a GM, I would pass.
Don’t think a team will sign him for the 50 million plus needed for Mets to get the highest comp pick
This is wild to me. How does he get any more than 2/3 years at 12 per? Surely there are similarly productive players on the market or through trade
McNeal will never be Mets right fielder.
Injury prone.
Oh right. I forgot that you have a tendency to state all of your guess work as if it’s undeniable fact.
Agreed. Only LF is suitable for injury prone players as well as the IR.
McNeal will be long gone.
McNeil will not either. Squirrel will be at 3B and LF. Once Cano is injured or suspended, than Squirrel can play a little 2B as well. Don’t know who McNeal is.
I thought the QO was more than fair. In fact, I saw it as a bit of an overpay. Mets can find a more valuable outfield option in the 18-20 range.
I think this is a case where the agent is giving player bad advice. Probably 10 better everyday players out there better than him. I doubt he comes close to 18 million per year.
Haniger thru trade. or Vientos will be their RF
Why would the Mariners trade Haniger?
They need a 1b which we can trade them Dom Smith and he’s a lot cheaper than Haniger for 1 year of Haniger and they have Kelenic to put in RF
They have a 1B signed long term
Imagine the reaction in Seattle if the Mariners traded Haniger for Smith? Mitch nearly willed them to a playoff spot in September. And if they did trade Haniger, they would get numerous better offers than that.
I’m not much of a Conforto fan but this is probably the correct decision. Another less-than-stellar season for him isn’t unthinkable. If that happens. his earning power would drop considerably. In my opinion, this isn’t one of those situations where the player should bet on himself.
Question: If Syndergaard also rejects the QO, would that set off a red flag that many Mets fans are denying?
For what it’s worth, I would expect multiple teams to try to get creative with a possible Thor contract that might include multiple opt-outs. Talented pitcher. If you’re going to screw up signing someone to a high-priced contract, do it one someone with talent.
If I’m Conforto I’m totally betting on myself, picking a good hitting home park, probably in the AL on a good offensive team, pick a good 2 year deal in the 35mil ish range and re entering the market at 30 looking for a big pay day.
He already chose not to bet on himself. My guess is there are already multiple 3-or-4 year landing spots on the horizon and it only takes one.
Same with Syndergaard. I could be way off, but considering the state of starting pitching, interest in Syndergaard should be really high. I would guess the three SoCal teams would be interested, none of which would have the inside track. Seattle is another strong possibility. If he accepts the QO, I will publically eat crow.
What do you mean he chose not to bet on himself already?
Do you mean by rejecting the QO, that very much could just be a sign he wants out of his current situation. His teammates thought it was a good idea to boo fans last year, he may want to go play somewhere with a bit less pressure than NY with new teammates, hitting coach etc. I don’t think him rejecting the QO means he will sign a long term deal
I think Thor stays and you’ll be eating some crow :p
There is zero indication that Conforto has any issue playing with the Mets. He’s seemed quite happy with the organization. He’s looking for a multi year deal, that’s all.
Conforto will get a multi-year deal. We see it all the time. I doubt New York pressure is a factor because he’s been there for several years. He’s leaving because a better offer is waiting. Say, four years at somewhere around $70M with an opt-out in the middle a la Nick Castellanos. He might even be one of the first guys to sign.
There will be opt-outs everywhere. That’s the new “betting on yourself.”
Do you see a team giving him that? I don’t to be honest, there’s better, more consistent players on the market and the pick attached to him may be a deciding factor for on the fence, mid to smaller market teams
I could even see him even taking a 1 year deal a la Semien last year
Yes, I see him getting that. It only takes one team to do it. Remember, all these front-office types are looking at the same data and Conforto remains highly regarded. And while there probably aren’t 10 or 12 teams interested as Boras suggests, there are probably multiple contenders including something that Conforto really likes. He’ll easily get more than any of the Braves FA outfielders.
Smeien’s situation was different as everyone might have been focused on the SS class from the following year and didn’t want to jump the gun on a guy who had one good year and was coming off a bad one. Again, everyone is looking at the same numbers. That doesn’t mean they’ll all end up being right. Every now and then, someone like Semien will come along and prove them wrong (at least over the short term). But there are plenty of cases where they are proven right. Remember how stunned everyone was when Cleveland let Brad Hand go? Lots of fans thought he was worth a multi-year deal at $10M per year and were cursing their team for not doing it. How much would you offer him now?
Not a Conforfto fan. I just think he will do better than the QO. Either way, it’ll be a fascinating winter with billionaires crying poverty, then giving big bucks to guys coming off so-so years.
I think we agree on his market but disagree on his approach, probably because I’m higher on him than you.
I agree he could get 4 year deal, heck maybe even 5 at the right AAV, but I think he’ll stick under a 2, maybe club or mutual option 3 year.
The fun part is we will find out soon and I’m sure whoever’s right will remind the other to add some salt to that crow 🙂
If the NL has a DH next year, Soler is a better get than Conforto. Just make sure you have a DH slit for him. Even Conforto is a GG compared to Soler.
Not for the Mets though, as they have Cano and Smith.
Teams are starting to pay less for average OF.
Put it in perspective if your a Mets fan. You’re losing a talented but inconsistent player off of a HORRIBLE YEAR in Conforto. In games that mattered he was one of the worst players in the game.
In Thor you are losing a talented player whose last good year was 2018? I’ll take the two picks and live without giving either long term years. If it turns out like Wheeler, we’ll Wheeler had 5 years to do it here and had two good half seasons and otherwisedwas a 5 ERA guy.
It doesn’t matter what they’ve already done. It’s about what teams think/hope they will do in the future. Wheeler is an example. The Phillies guessed right, the Mets guessed wrong. Of course, it’s more than just guessing for that kind of money.
Maybe instead of your snarky comment, you should be thanking the people in these “non quality areas” of the country for their contributions.
I for one am sick and tired of people like yourself who claim to love capitalism, yet at every turn live off the success and hard work of people who aren’t as “good” as you.
News flash: the states of NY and CA, if on their own, would be in the top 10 economies in the world. And what happens? We’ve got red states who don’t want to collect tax revenue, so they just take it from these successful places, and then lecture them on responsibility. Just say you’re welcome and shove it.
NY and CA are experiencing massive exoduses and their economic power is decreasing extremely rapidly. Sacramento will be CA saving grace temporarily.
Those states are experiencing mass exoduses? Do you have a trusted link to that info? According to U.S. Census data released in August, New York’s population went up in the past decade. So did New York City’s, which rose to 8.8 million. Meanwhile, California’s population is now up near 40 million. It’s not an exodus just because a few disgruntled Republicans you know moved to Montana. Here’s a US News report from August on the New York census and the bogus claims of a mass exodus. That’s a legitimate news source.
usnews.com/news/best-states/new-york/articles/2021…
#njbirdsfan What you Marxists forget to mention that New Flash the only thing keeping failed states like CA and NY a float is the Democrats pumping trillions of dollars of Federal Money into these blue states. Look at the Debt 30 trillion and rising and 99% of that money goes to blue socialists states. What economy? Whose going to pay that money back? Who wants to live in filthy crime infested blue states where it will only get worse. So you should shove it or pay off the national debt you just take from and then call that successful!!
Interested to see how much he improves removed from the toxic environment.
Conforto can’t hit in the clutch if his life depended on it save the money and sign Baez and Marte
Meh, he knew what was going to happen when he hired Boras, so everyone knew this was coming. Let him go, and grab Marte. Then let’s get the infield and pitchers done. Bring back Villar if possible for the bench.
Finally, a break for the Mets.
Conforto is not solely responsible for the teams performance this year, granted he did not help. He clearly has not turned in to the player Mets fans hope he would. More streaky than not but I agree they can’t resign him. Have to break up this stagnant lineup only problem is who are we getting to replace him
Phillies will sign Conforto and will be a top hitter in the league and watch the Mets fan cringe everytime the Phils play them.Phils stole Wheeler and now it will be Conforto.I will LMAO
Must be more to life than just being a Met hater but I guess some people just don’t have a life?
Anyhow as a long time Mets fan if Conforto goes to another team and plays well it only means he can’t handle the bright lights of NY the same way he choked in his contract year and will choke in the playoffs for any team that signs him no matter how good a season he has for that team.
No Met fan really cares what he does next because we know he can’t perform for the Mets. Conforto crumbles in the clutch; just doesn’t have it.
By the way; the Phils with Wheeler, didn’t see them in the layoffs so how did that work out for you?
You won’t see the Phils in a WS but you will see them win the division before your crappy disorganized team still w/o a Mgr and GM and with the worst owner of all time.The Mets fans make me hate them.Now I can hate them because the Owner is a fool and has proven that to everyone even Met fans.Tell me you wouldn’t want Wheeler back.
HeyBob333
I agree with you that:
1)”crappy disorganized team still w/o a Mgr and GM”
2) “worst owner of all time.” I thought the coupons were bad but Cohen is worse.
3) I loved Wheeler and thought his numbers were brought down because of the Catcher Ramos and Dick Pic Callaway
I don’t agree why you waste your precious time and energy “The Mets fans make me hate them.”
More to life dude! live and be happy!
I do think if he went to Philly he would do really well… he loves hitting there
A player with a 106 wRC+ turned down $18.4 million? If his agent talked him into this, there might be some tension in the relationship come spring training.
He’s had more than one year in his career, you know. Folks tend to base these things one more than just one season. Career OPS+: 124
True. But he also missed over a month with a hamstring injury, and he had a hamstring injury in 2020 too. Marcel Ozuna turned down the $18.9M QO from the Cardinals in 2019 and ended up signing with the Braves for $18 for one year, costing himself nearly a million bucks. Dallas Keuchel turned down the $17.9M QO from Houston in 2018 and ended up signing a one-year deal with the Braves for $13M. Lance Lynn turned down the $17.4M QO from St. Louis in 2017 and ended up with a one-year $12M deal from the Twins. It’s a gamble.
You’re right about it being a (possibly losing) gamble. I’m a bit hyped up over all the Conforto hate around here and kinda let that influence how I first interpreted your post, but you make a good point.
And you made a better point when you said that one year in a career is no basis for making a judgment. I appreciate the correction.
It’s good to see someone recognizing how good he was pre-2021… he was top 15 in MLB OF from 2017-20 in WAR, OPS+ and WRC+… having said that, I think he should’ve accepted the QO bc a bounceback seems almost inevitable, and going FA off this bad year will absolutely hurt his contract