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BREAKING: Dodgers 10-Year Veteran All-Star Signs With Diamondbacks

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Diamondbacks: There is no sugarcoating just how disastrous the past year was for outfielder Michael Conforto, a season that derailed both his on-field reputation and his standing across Major League Baseball. What was supposed to be a fresh start with a championship contender instead turned into one of the most disappointing chapters of his professional career, leaving him in an uncertain position as he searches for his next opportunity.

Conforto entered last offseason hoping to reestablish his value after an injury-plagued stretch earlier in his career. The Los Angeles Dodgers, a franchise known for both star power and calculated reclamation projects, stepped in with a one-year, $17 million contract. On paper, the deal made sense for both sides. The Dodgers were taking a relatively low-risk gamble on a veteran outfielder with a history of offensive production, while Conforto was getting a chance to rebuild his stock in a winning environment, surrounded by elite talent and supported by one of the most advanced player-development systems in the sport.

Dodgers Get Horrible News on $107 Million Michael Conforto Replacement -  Athlon Sports

Instead, the partnership quickly unraveled.

Over the course of the regular season, Conforto struggled mightily at the plate. Across 138 games, he managed just a .199 batting average, a figure that stands out starkly in today’s offense-friendly game. Even more concerning was his overall impact—or lack thereof—on the field. According to Baseball-Reference, Conforto finished the season with a negative-0.7 bWAR, meaning his contributions were actually below replacement level. For a player earning $17 million and expected to provide solid production in a contending lineup, those numbers were alarming.

As the season progressed, Conforto never seemed to find a rhythm. His timing at the plate looked off, his confidence appeared shaken, and the consistency that once defined his game was nowhere to be found. Whether it was lingering physical issues, mechanical flaws, or simply the mental toll of prolonged struggles, the end result was the same: Conforto was unable to deliver when the Dodgers needed him most.

Dodgers' Michael Conforto Receives Major Contract Prediction Ahead of Free  Agency

When the regular season came to a close and postseason rosters were finalized, the verdict on Conforto’s year became unmistakably clear. Despite his veteran status and prior playoff experience, he was left off the Dodgers’ postseason roster entirely. For a player who signed with Los Angeles in hopes of competing for a championship and proving he still belonged among the league’s productive everyday players, the omission was a harsh and public disappointment.

From that point forward, the consequences of his down year followed him into free agency. As the offseason unfolded, Conforto found himself in an unfamiliar and uncomfortable position. Interest around the league was limited, and teams appeared hesitant to commit guaranteed money or a significant role to an outfielder coming off such a poor campaign. While some veterans rebound quickly from a single bad season, Conforto’s struggles were severe enough to raise doubts about whether he could still be an everyday contributor at the major league level.

Dave Roberts: Michael Conforto Facing Important Stretch Leading Up To MLB  Trade Deadline | Yardbarker

Ironically, despite his individual struggles and his exclusion from the postseason, Conforto will still receive a World Series ring from the Dodgers at some point during the upcoming season. Los Angeles went on to capture the championship, and as a member of the roster during the regular season, Conforto is entitled to that recognition. The situation creates a peculiar and somewhat awkward image: a player whose performance was so underwhelming that he was deemed unplayable in October still walking away with the sport’s ultimate prize.

The question now is whether Conforto will even be wearing a Dodgers uniform when that ring is presented to him. Given his status as a free agent and the lack of movement around his name, it seems increasingly likely that he will accept the ring as a member of a different organization—assuming he lands with another team at all.

Dodgers Insider Reveals Michael Conforto Update as MLB Trade Deadline Nears  - Yahoo Sports

One potential destination has already been floated. On Tuesday, Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller suggested that the Arizona Diamondbacks could emerge as a logical landing spot for Conforto before the start of the regular season. The reasoning behind the projection is rooted in Arizona’s current roster situation, particularly in the outfield.

At the moment, the Diamondbacks are dealing with a significant absence. Starting left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is recovering from a torn ACL and is not expected to be available when the season begins. That injury has left a noticeable gap in Arizona’s outfield depth, creating an opening for a veteran player who could handle regular at-bats—at least temporarily.

Dodgers Predicted To Land Michael Conforto Alternative In Orioles Trade -  Newsweek

“Arizona definitely needs some outfield help, though, at least until Lourdes Gurriel Jr. makes it back from his torn ACL,” Miller wrote. “As things presently stand, it’s looking like they’ll have Alek Thomas in center (with a 0.1 bWAR over the past two seasons combined) and Jordan Lawlar moving from shortstop/third base to left and hopefully drastically improving upon his career .478 OPS in 108 plate appearances.”

In other words, the Diamondbacks’ current plan involves a combination of unproven or positionally stretched players, none of whom have recently demonstrated consistent offensive production at the major league level. While Alek Thomas brings defensive value and athleticism, his offensive output has been minimal over the past two seasons. Meanwhile, Jordan Lawlar, though highly regarded as a prospect, has struggled mightily in his limited big-league exposure and would be transitioning to a new position in the outfield.

It's Time to Pull the Plug on Michael Conforto

From Arizona’s perspective, signing Conforto could represent a relatively low-risk move. Even if he no longer resembles the All-Star caliber player he once was, he still offers experience, left-handed power potential, and the ability to hold down a corner outfield spot while Gurriel continues his recovery. For a team with postseason aspirations in a competitive National League, stability matters, and Conforto—at least in theory—could provide that.

The larger question, however, is what Conforto himself is willing to accept. At 33 years old, he finds himself at a crossroads. Players in his position often have to choose between holding out for a guaranteed major league deal or settling for a smaller contract, possibly even a minor league agreement with an invitation to spring training. It remains unclear whether Conforto is still aiming for a fully guaranteed MLB contract or if reality will eventually push him toward a more modest arrangement.

Andrew Friedman: Dodgers Expect Michael Conforto To Have 'Better' Second  Half | Yardbarker

Prior to last season, Conforto had built a respectable body of work over a five-year stretch. While he was never a perennial superstar, he was a reliable middle-of-the-order bat for much of his time with the New York Mets. His peak came in 2017, when he earned an All-Star selection and looked like one of the better young outfielders in the game. Since then, injuries and inconsistency have chipped away at his production, making it unlikely he will ever return to those heights.

Still, baseball history is full of players who have rebounded from disastrous seasons, particularly when motivated by dwindling opportunities. For Conforto, the upcoming year represents exactly that type of moment. Whether he signs with the Diamondbacks, another club, or waits deeper into the season for a chance, the margin for error is slim.

Regardless of where he ends up or what kind of contract he ultimately signs, one thing is certain: Michael Conforto will enter the new season with more to prove than at any other point in his career. His time with the Dodgers was not just disappointing—it was damaging. To convince teams that he still belongs at the highest level, he will need to show that last year was an anomaly rather than the beginning of the end.

The coming months will determine whether Conforto can rewrite the narrative surrounding his career or whether his Dodgers stint will be remembered as the moment when a once-promising outfielder quietly faded from relevance.

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