Philadelphia Phillies can improve the outfield with these 3 free agents
By Tim Boyle
Just when you thought the biggest need for the Philadelphia Phillies outside of the bullpen was at shortstop, think again. The outfield is incredibly shallow beyond right fielder Bryce Harper. Left field and center field are “no dive zones” because of how much lack of depth the team has.
Fortunately for the Phillies, despite not doing much back in November before the MLB lockout, they have a lot of options in free agency.
Thinking a little greedy but also hoping for the best, these three outfielders are all possibilities for the Phillies to sign and fit on the 2022 roster.
The Philadelphia Phillies should sign Michael Conforto to play left field.
Longtime Phillies rival Michael Conforto left the New York Mets this offseason and is now a free agent hoping to rebound in 2022. A sweet power bat with typically above-average OBP numbers in his career, Conforto has been playing right field in recent seasons for the Mets. This won’t happen in Philadelphia. Luckily, he has a lot of experience in left field as well.
Conforto’s lifetime totals include a .255/.356/.468 slash line and an average of 28 home runs and 85 RBI per 162 games. Last season’s totals, a .232/.344/.384 slash line was well below what he has done in the past. He suffered through a lengthy injury and was a part of a Mets lineup that struggled from top to bottom. If there’s anyone in free agency ready to rebound, it’s him.
Conforto’s powerful left-handed bat would fit well in the middle of the Philadelphia starting lineup. The team has room for more left-handed power.
While some fans may prefer the flashiest and more recently productive Kyle Schwarber as a left fielder, Conforto is a superior defender. It’s time for the Phillies to start putting some more value on defense. Conforto can provide them with production on both sides of the ball—a rarity for many recent members of the Phillies organization.