3 buy-low free agent targets the Mets should pursue

3) Michael Conforto could be one of the biggest steals of the offseason

Conforto missed all of 2022 due to a shoulder injury, which means he’s looking for a one-year deal to rebuild his value, similar to Bellinger.

From 2017-2019, Conforto averaged a .257/.363/.492/856 slashline with 29 homers, 25 doubles, 81 RBI’s, and an OPS+ of 131. In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, he was even better, tallying a .322/.412/.515/.927 slashline with an OPS+ of 154. 

The lefty was one of the most consistent hitters in baseball from 2017-2020, but for reasons I’ll never understand, shortsighted Mets fans only remember his struggles in 2021.

2021 was a bad year for him. He was playing hurt, and it showed. He slashed .232/.344/.384/.729 with 14 homers and 20 doubles over 125 games. He dealt with a hamstring injury that forced him to miss almost six weeks in the middle of the season, but he did improve a bit after coming back from the IL (.639 OPS before IL stint, .792 after), even though it still wasn’t up to his usual performance.

Then in the offseason, he injured his shoulder while working out. He required season-ending shoulder surgery in April, but he’s expected to be ready for Spring Training. 

Just Baseball predicts that he will sign a one-year contract worth $10-13million. For the type of production he’s capable of, and keeping in mind that he plays strong defense in either corner outfield spot, that’s not a bad deal. If it doesn’t work out, it’s only a one year commitment. If he performs the way we know he can, it’s a steal. I would love to see his sweet swing back in Queens.