Early Monday afternoon, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said his club is focused on adding on offense, more specifically a left-handed hitting outfielder. It appears the wheels are already in motion on a potential free-agent signing.
Toronto is among teams with interest in outfielder Michael Conforto, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The Mets and Rangers are reportedly also vying for the 29-year-old’s services.
Conforto, who is represented by MLB super-agent Scott Boras, missed all of 2022 after undergoing right shoulder surgery last April. As Conforto rehabbed his way back, the talk of his potential return to a competitor has only fueled the hype.
Right now, Rosenthal reports that clubs have some concerns about Conforto’s arm strength, as he last played an inning of major-league defense on October 3, 2021, with the Mets. According to Boras, Conforto is ahead of schedule at long-tossing at 150 feet.
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If Conforto’s arm can’t hold up, he could be relegated to a full-time designated hitter role, which would soften his market, writes Rosenthal.
When healthy, Conforto is excellent. He’s left-handed, boasts above-average on-base skills, and had a career .824 OPS. A vintage-form Conforto would cement the Blue Jays’ status as one of the best-hitting teams in baseball.
Elsewhere in Rosenthal’s report, he confirmed the Blue Jays were among the finalists for Michael Brantley before the switch-hitter re-upped with the Astros on a one-year deal.
