Fansided

3 former Mets failing miserably on their new teams

By Cody Williams

Apr 26, 2023; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants designated hitter Michael Conforto (8) hits a single against the St. Louis Cardinals during the sixth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 26, 2023; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants designated hitter Michael Conforto (8) hits a single against the St. Louis Cardinals during the sixth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /
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New York Mets, Michael Conforto
Michael Conforto, New York Mets. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports /

The New York Mets have been spending big with Steve Cohen, but letting these former players walk was a good call based on how they’ve played on new teams.

Despite dropping two games to the Braves and falling a game further behind them in the NL East standings, the New York Mets have enjoyed a solid, though unspectacular start the 2023 season. More impressive is that they’ve been able to do this despite their biggest-money signing of the offseason, Justin Verlander, taking the bump yet.

Since Steve Cohen took over the Mets, spending has been as far away from an issue as possible. But more importantly, the franchise has been clear about the guys they are willing to pay and, just as importantly, the players they are willing to let walk.

Given that the Mets look good enough, especially as they get healthier, to start the year, they look smart for not bringing these three players back because, point blank, it’s not been a good start with their new teams.

Mets: 3 former players failing on their new teams

3. Michael Conforto hasn’t had the juice with the SF Giants

It’s been a minute since Michael Conforto was with the Mets considering that he missed the entirety of the 2022 season due to injury and never signed after his contract in New York ran up following the 2021 campaign. But that was the last team he played for before signing with the San Francisco Giants this offseason.

The good news for the Giants is that Conforto has hit four home runs on the season and has 10 RBI to his credit. The bad news is that the rest of the picture is none too pretty for the veteran outfielder this season in the Bay.

Conforto has posted a measly slash line of .193/.311/.341 in 26 games played this season. He has just one extra-base hit outside of his four homers and, while he is second on the Giants in walks with 13, he also leads the team in strikeouts with 34. It’s basically been an all-or-nothing approach for him at the plate.

Landing on Conforto after trying to sign Aaron Judge this offseason has to feel like a punch to the gut for San Francisco, but it’s made even worse by the fact that Confrto’s lowest OPS from 2017-21 with the Mets was .729 and he’s a full 0.07 points lower than that to start his time with the Giants.

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