For an SF Giants team in need of more thump, why not Michael Conforto? Yes, he would add to an already crowded left-handed outfield mix, but the addition of the DH in the National League should make the fit possible.
LaMonte Wade Jr. could play left, Mike Yastrzemski could play center, and Conforto could play right against right-handed pitching. This would allow Joc Pederson so slide into the DH spot on most days against righties. Darin Ruf might not get his opportunity to be an everyday player right away, but is that really such a bad thing? He would be their top weapon off the bench every single night, and he would hit in the middle of the lineup every time they face a lefty.
Against lefties, Ruf could start in left, Austin Slater in center, and Conforto in right (as one of the Giants' few everyday players, along with Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford, and Evan Longoria). ESPN predicted when the offseason began that Conforto would command a three-year, $51 million deal, which host Ben Kaspick thinks is extremely reasonable for a player of his caliber, particularly given that he's just 29 years old. Ben thinks a deal like that with multiple opt outs could make sense for both sides. A one-year deal is also a possibility at this point for Conforto, who has some questions about his vaccination status, which could be holding up his market. Teams in the AL East are wary of signing unvaccinated players, since they won't be allowed to travel to Toronto under current Canadian law.
One more consideration: Conforto rejected the qualifying offer from the Mets, meaning he would cost the Giants their second-highest draft pick in 2022 (roughly 65th overall). Ben thinks that shouldn't be prohibitive and that Conforto should still be a priority.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
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