Free agent outfielder Michael Conforto will not be suiting up for the New York Mets or any other team this season.
One of the more talked about free agents this past offseason was former New York Mets outfielder Michael Conforto. The 29-year-old was hitting the open market for the first time and was expected to be one of the top earners despite a down year in 2021.
But as the 2022 season got underway, Conforto was still unsigned. Most fans assumed that Conforto may have been overvaluing himself or that perhaps the qualifying offer attached to his signing may have scared some teams off.
Unfortunately, it appears as though an injury that Conforto sustained in January was the biggest reason that the outfielder remained unsigned on Opening Day, and according to his agent Scott Boras, the former All-Star will be out of action until next summer.
Former Mets outfielder Michael Conforto will miss the 2022 season
Michael Conforto underwent success surgery last week to repair his right shoulder which he injured earlier this year during workouts. Conforto is expected to make a full recovery.
Conforto did not enjoy a typical season in 2021. The Oregon State product hit just .232/.344/.384 with 14 homers and 55 RBIs in 125 games for the New York Mets last season.
But, with a career-OPS of .824, Conforto was expected to have his fair share of suitors during the offseason. Even the Mets were rumored at one time to be looking to reunite with the outfielder. Those rumors quickly dissipated once New York signed Mark Canha and Starling Marte.
The Miami Marlins, Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, and others were also rumored to be after Conforto during free agency. But ultimately, Conforto went unsigned.
Hindsight is always 20/20, and I’m sure Michael Conforto wishes he’d have signed the $18.4M QO earlier this offseason. But, with Conforto now unlikely to sign with a new team until the 2022 MLB Draft, the QO will be obsolete and next winter a draft pick will not be attached to his signing.
The surgery will also allow Conforto to rehab completely and enter the free agent market next offseason fully healthy. Conforto will join Andrew Benintendi, Michael Brantley, and Aaron Judge as the top free agent outfielders available next winter.
