Why a Mets trade for Michael Conforto is romantically flawed

There are a couple of New York Mets reunions we could see at this year’s trade deadline. One name fans are beginning to talk about on social media is making a trade with the San Francisco Giants for Michael Conforto.

A better plot point for a fictional romantic novel about the 2024 Mets—one ending with a World Series win—Conforto is way down on the list of reunion candidates for the team to even consider.

Michael Conforto is not the outfielder the Mets need

The Mets have room for presumably one bat. It’ll need to be an outfielder. We can debate at length if it should be a righty or lefty. Considering Tyrone Taylor and Harrison Bader’s reverse splits this year with superior numbers against right-handed pitchers, someone who can obliterate lefties should be the priority.

Conforto, who hits left-handed, has gone against the convention and performed better against lefties this year. Slashing .267/.333/.450 against them, he has been handled well against right-handed pitchers who’ve held him to .212/.289/.373.

The Mets, in a lot of ways, already have their backup left-handed hitting outfielder with Jeff McNeil. The roster is already flawed with DJ Stewart and Ben Gamel on it. We saw this evidenced by the team having to start Stewart against Chris Sale on Thursday because Brandon Nimmo had a scheduled day off.

Many members of the Mets have had surprisingly opposing splits this season. Bader, who has hit lefties well in the past, is slashing .202/.245/.309. Taylor went is now at .178/.221/.274 against left-handed pitchers after going hitless on Thursday.

There are two main directions the Mets can go with the roster spot they’ll upgrade at the trade deadline. They don’t really need a defensive stalwart. That was and will remain Taylor’s role. A lefty who can punish right-handed pitchers isn’t a bad way to use the roster spot, but it’s unnecessary.

Compared to a player like Kevin Pillar who has annihilated left-handed pitchers and can play all three outfield positions, there is no comparison in terms of what the Mets could use most. Even Mark Canha, who has done well against southpaws as well, is a far better fit than Conforto.

For those who want to even poke holes into thoughts of the Mets needing a lefty over a righty, how about just getting someone like Jesse Winker having a good year? While not perfect in his own way, at least he’s a guy who has produced in 2024. Make a trade that makes sense.