Dodgers’ $17 Million Bust Reveals What ‘Went Wrong’ After Leaving For NL Rival
· Yahoo Sports
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 23: Michael Conforto #23 of the Los Angeles Dodgers speaks to the media during World Series Workout Day at Rogers Centre on October 23, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesThe Los Angeles Dodgers have earned two straight World Series championships thanks in large part to a pretty simple offseason strategy: acquire the best talent available to fortify even the smallest roster weaknesses.
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In the winter following 2024’s title, that meant acquiring star pitchers Blake Snell and Tanner Scott. And, after Scott didn’t perform as expected, the Dodgers acquired Edwin Diaz in this latest offseason.
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But the Dodgers didn’t just fortify their bullpen with a new star this winter, as they team also brought in outfield slugger Kyle Tucker to strengthen a unit that underperformed.
The Dodgers tried to strengthen the outfield ahead of last season by acquiring veteran Michael Conforto on a $17 million contract, but that move proved to be a bust.
“Conforto, the one-time All-Star, was hitting .156 by the end of April. It took the best month of his season just to lift his batting average around .200 by the end of July, enough of a push for the Dodgers not to cut bait on him entirely,” Fabian Ardaya wrote for The Athletic. “Conforto did not save his season. While he showed some signs over the final month, his OPS was still just .691.”
After a long and successful big-league career with the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants, Conforto seemed like a strong candidate to thrive in the star-studded Dodgers lineup. Instead, he was a disappointment and has now left the team for a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs.
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The Cubs’ big-league outfield seems pretty set already, with Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ, Matt Shaw and Kevin Alcantara all competing for at-bats. And, as a result, Conforto’s time in the majors might have already come to an end.
But for his part, the former All-Star is optimistic that a mechanical issue can explain his slump with the Dodgers and become the key to a resurgence.
“One of the things that went wrong, I think, last year was just kind of getting away from who I am at my core,” Conforto said during a recent Spring Training broadcast, per a video relayed by Dodgers Nation on X. “I’ve always been really focused on my legs, really aware of what they’re doing and making sure that they stay active, and that’s kind of the base of my swing… Sometimes, you just tinker so much you get out of it and it’s hard to find the way back.”
Conforto added that he believes the Cubs’ hitting coaches can get him back on track. But the veteran will have a tough time competing for a spot on a Cubs team that wants to challenge the Dodgers for a National League pennant.