Braves fans, the Hot Stove is sizzling this winter, but it seems like Atlanta’s been content watching the flames from a safe distance. As the rest of the league snaps up talent like Black Friday shoppers, the Dodgers have quietly snatched up another potential Braves target: Michael Conforto. One year, $17 million; just like that, the outfielder is Hollywood-bound.
You might be thinking, “Wait, what about Juan Soto?” Nope, not yet. Soto just signed that jaw-dropping mega-deal with the Mets, further deepening Atlanta’s divisional headache. This time, it’s Conforto making headlines — a guy who could’ve fit nicely into the Braves’ outfield puzzle. Before dismissing this move as another quiet offseason whiff for Atlanta, let’s break down why Conforto could’ve been a sneaky-good addition.
Over the past two seasons with the Giants, he posted a .238/.322/.418 slash line with 35 homers and 124 RBIs in 255 games. Sure, those numbers don’t wow you, but here’s the kicker: Conforto feasted on right-handed pitching in 2023. A cool .284/.349/.537 slash line in 106 plate appearances against righties? That kind of production can change games, especially when your lineup is heavy on righty hitters who could use a platoon partner.
And let’s not forget the impact of ballparks. Oracle Park, Conforto’s home field with the Giants, isn’t exactly a hitter’s paradise. If you take his numbers outside of Oracle’s cavernous confines, his wRC+ jumps to 133. That’s the kind of value a team like the Braves could’ve leveraged, especially since his overall wRC+ still sat at a respectable 112 in 2024.
Conforto also knows the NL East like the back of his glove. He spent the first six years of his career with the Mets after being selected 10th overall in 2014. During that stretch, he slashed a strong .259/.358/.484 with a 128 wRC+ and even snagged an All-Star nod. But like many promising careers, his momentum was derailed by injuries. After rejecting a qualifying offer from the Mets, he hit free agency at the worst possible time, needing shoulder surgery during the lockout. That’s how he landed with the Giants — and how he just landed in LA.
So, where does that leave the Braves? Still looking for answers in the outfield. With Conforto off the table, fewer impact bats remain on the market. But fear not, Braves Country — the Winter Meetings in Dallas are right around the corner, and this is where GM Alex Anthopoulos typically shines. AA’s not one to twiddle his thumbs when the market heats up. Expect some mingling, wheeling, and dealing to go down as executives and agents huddle over coffee and contracts.
The Braves’ window for contention is wide open, but standing still while rivals like the Mets and Dodgers load up on talent? That’s a risky game. Whether through a trade or free agency, the outfield situation must be addressed soon if Atlanta wants to keep pace in an NL East that’s only getting tougher.
