One of the more unusual free agency experiences of recent memory has ended up working out quite well for the Giants.
Michael Conforto landed with the Giants this offseason after spending more time without a team than initially expected. He turned down his qualifying offer from the Mets in the fall of 2021 so he could become a free agent, but didn’t sign anywhere before the lockout. He then hurt his shoulder during the lockout, which required surgery and ultimately prevented him from playing at all last season.
Despite Conforto not playing for a year, the Giants decided to take a bit of a risk and sign him to two-year, $36 million deal in San Francisco.
His numbers won’t blow you away. He’s hitting .243 with a .749 OPS, hitting 13 homers with 51 RBIs, 36 walks and 77 strikeouts through 82 games this season. But he’s come up with timely hits, and has served as an important clubhouse presence for a team trying to return to sustained winning.
His manager, Gabe Kapler, told “The Morning Roast” that Conforto has had a hugely positive impact on the team.
“Mike has come up big in clutch situations,” Kapler said. “And it seems like when he’s up to the plate in a big spot, he’s just so relaxed. I think it’s one of the things that allows him to be good. And I think another reason he’s good in the clutch is the guy had played on the biggest stage in the biggest moments.
“Yeah, a lot of experience, one of the sweetest, most mechanically-sound swings in baseball, you don’t see that swing every day. So those are the reasons that he’s so good in those spots.
“And he’s an excellent person. Just off the charts teammate, human being, so fun to be around. Always got a simple, always engaged, a really, really good get for us.”
Conforto has an opt-out following this season, so there’s a chance he could be one-and-done in San Francisco. At least for now though, the partnership has no doubt been a mutually beneficial one.
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