December 15th, 2024 at 8:30 am 
by Ron Cervenka For astute Dodgers fans, Friday’s announcement that the Dodgers had signed 31-year-old outfielder Michael Conforto to a one-year / $17 million contract which includes an $8.5 million signing bonus, of which $6.5 million is payable on January 15, 2025 and the balance due next December, is a bit of a head-scratcher.
Although the Seattle, WA native and first-round draft pick in 2014 by the New York Mets out of Oregon State University was an All-Star in 2017, he has zero Gold Gloves and zero Silver Sluggers. He hit .237 with 20 home runs and 66 RBIs with the San Francisco Giants in 2024 and owns a career slash line of .251/.348/.456/.804 over his nine MLB seasons – not atrocious, but not all that great either.
“He’s a guy that we reached out on at the Trade Deadline last year,” Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman said of Conforto during the just-concluded MLB Winter Meetings in Dallas, TX. “Respected him from afar for a while. It’s not often for a guy that they’re both a floor-raiser with ceiling.”
(Jeff Chiu)
It gets worse.
Conforto declined a one-year / $18.4 million offer from the Mets following the 2021 season and went unsigned in 2022 while recovering from right shoulder surgery.
It gets even worse.
Friedman’s 2025 Dodgers drawing board figures to have Conforto as an every day corner outfielder, joining Tommy Edman and rookie sensation Andy Pages, with future Hall of Famer Mookie Betts (presumably) becoming the Dodgers every day shortstop. As such, what happens with extremely popular Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández, who, as of this writing, remains an unsigned free agent?
Although Friedman recently said that negotians are on-going with the 32-year-old Cotui, Dominican Republic native who slashed .272/.339/.501/.840 with 33 home runs and 99 RBIs in 2024 and was the 2024 Home Run Derby champion, he also recently said:
“…if he decides to sign somewhere else we have no other choice to wish him well.”
(Jon Soohoo)
Do you see where this is going?
There is no kind or gentle way to put it – Teoscar Hernández will (probably) soon be an ex-Dodger.
…and that just plain sucks.
Play Ball!
* * * * * *
Posted in 
Conforto in LF, Teoscar in RF, Edman in CF with Pages the 4th OF’er in all three spots. Could work. I’m more concerned that some team offers more money and years to Teoscar than Friedman offers.
I think the analytics department strikes again Ron. Oracle Park is pretty cavernous, and may be seeing things that they saw in Teo in TMobile Field, as well as distancing himself from prior injuries. Also thinking unrelated to Teo’s prospects unless he flat out doesn’t return; seeing a possible platoon with Pages.
Santander wants 5 yrs probably 100 mil.
Teo has to be 4 yrs 90plus. Dodgers could offer 2 yr 50 mil, might be enough if we are concerned about the 4th yr.
Mistake the Dodgers made was not signing him before Soto however they maybe tried and the agent wanted to wait.
Where do we go if we can’t sign Teo.
We have lots to trade.
If no Teoscar, Conforto in LF, Eman in CF, Pages and Outman in RF.
Maybe we add Kiki h.
Plays 3b against lefties. Some OF and some 2b.
Dave Roberts says team is close to signing Teoscar. A bit of good news
God I hope so. Teo rounds out A World Championship Team.
Other positional roster moves perhaps waiting for the final decision on Teoscar.
I just can’t believe that the front office would let a .270+ batting average, 33 home runs & 99 rbi’s walk away.
Why don’t they value that?
How do they value that?
From what I have read and heard, the Dodgers definitely value Teoscar. But, free agency provides players the opportunity to explore contracts with other teams and reportedly there are several teams pursuing Teoscar (notably Yankees, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Reds, Dodgers). Negotiations take time and the process was likely delayed until Juan Soto was off the market. My concern all along was/is that another team would make a ridiculous off to Teoscar that he could not afford to turn down. I hope the report that the Dodgers are close to re-signing him are true.
Can we dream
Imagine a lineup with
Ohtani 40 plus homers
Betts 25-30
Freeman 25
Teo 30
Muncy 30 plus
Conforto 30 with Pages
Edman 15-20
I expect Will Smith to hit between 20 and 25 taters. Muncy stay healthy all season, he could approach 40. I will not be shocked if Dodgers pull off trade for Arenado (20 to 25 home runs) with Muncy at 2b. OH MY!
I always forget W Smith.
Arenado and Teo??
I’d rather get Tanner Scott and Teo.
I like Arenado Cards might get a better deal elsewhere. I think Nolans money
Could be the issue.
I think the team can sign Teo, Scott, and trade for Arenado (as long as Cards take back Taylor and Lux as part to the deal which makes the money work in 2025 — salaries decline in 2026 and 2027). Arenado is not likely to be acquired, but I think he is going to have bounce back season in 2025.
Did you see we signed Botti from Cubs.
Could be a decent utility player
Has never lived up to prospect hype. I hope Kike returns.
Well, Belli to the Yankers. Most likely takes them out of the Teo conversation. Probably takes Suzuki off the table as well. Could give AF the impetus to get a deal done with Teo.
Boston and Toronto getting desperate for middle of order bat — Teo’s bargaining position is still strong.
Teo holdup has to be about Dodgers insisting on deferred money.
Suzuki is the best trade scenario if we lose out on TEO.
Now that Cubs have traded Bellinger I wonder if Cubs move him to LF and Ian Happ from LF to third base?