The Giants’ outfield will see a key return in 2024.
Right fielder Michael Conforto has opted out of the final year of the two-year, $36 million contract he signed with San Francisco last offseason, he confirmed to The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly on Monday. Jon Heyman of the New York Post was first to report the news.
Conforto told Baggarly he looks forward to playing for San Francisco in 2024 under new manager Bob Melvin.
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Michael Conforto on participating and playing for Bob Melvin: “I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to get to work! I’m looking forward to getting to know him. I’ve heard nothing but great things from players and coaches who have worked with him. I know the rest of the guys are excited too.”
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) November 6, 2023
Conforto was one of the better hitters in the MLB for a few years, but missed the entire 2022 season after undergoing shoulder surgery in April of that year, which allowed the Giants to move on to the veteran slugger last offseason.
In 125 games with the Giants last season, Conforto hit .239/.334/.384 with 15 homers and 58 RBI in 406 at-bats with a near-league-wide 99 OPS+ average. He played 96 games in right field, 18 games in left field and 13 as a designated hitter.
Conforto battled several injuries last season, missing significant playing time in the second half with a hamstring injury. However, when healthy, Conforto was one of the Giants’ better hitters and carried San Francisco’s offense at times in mid- to late May.
Farhan Zaidi, the Giants’ president of baseball operations, has emphasized the organization’s desire to improve the defense with younger and more athletic players, but Conforto, who wasn’t bad defensively last season, will be back in the outfield next season.
The Giants will pay Conforto $18 million in 2024. In a very weak market for free agent outfielders this winter, Conforto declined to test his luck and potentially get a bigger contract elsewhere to run back with San Francisco.
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