Chicago Cubs Manager Craig Counsell Explains the Logic Behind the Michael Conforto Signing
MESA — When the Chicago Cubs quietly announced a minor league agreement with veteran outfielder Michael Conforto, the reaction around baseball was immediate and, in many cases, puzzled.
The organization had already brought in Chas McCormick and Dylan Carlson on minor league deals, signaling a clear focus on outfield depth. Adding Conforto to that mix felt less like insurance and more like opportunistic upside.
This week at Spring Training, Cubs manager Craig Counsell addressed the move publicly for the first time, offering insight into the front office’s thinking.
“I think at this point we’re just looking to bring in candidates to strengthen the roster,” Counsell said. “Michael had a down year last year but has been a good player in this league for quite a while.”
That framing matters.
Conforto’s 2025 campaign with the Los Angeles Dodgers was undeniably difficult. Across 138 games, he posted a -0.7 WAR, the first negative mark of his 10-year career.
He hit just .199, a career low, while striking out 121 times in 486 plate appearances — nearly a 25 percent strikeout rate.
The power did not fully disappear, as he still managed 12 home runs, but the overall offensive consistency that once defined him was missing.
Yet Counsell’s comments suggest the Cubs view the downturn less as a collapse and more as a correction opportunity.
“Sometimes when you sign guys it’s like: Where is the opportunity here?” Counsell added. “And then we show up in five days and there’s a big opportunity.”
For a team aiming to contend, that flexibility is strategic rather than reactive.
Conforto’s résumé provides context for optimism.
With the San Francisco Giants in 2024, he hit 20 home runs and ranked in the 75th percentile or higher in six offensive categories, according to Baseball Savant.
His 2019 season with the New York Mets remains the benchmark. That year, he launched 33 home runs, added 29 doubles, drove in 92 runs, and hit .257.
Approaching his 33rd birthday, Conforto is not a developing prospect, but he is not past the traditional power peak window either.
The underlying metrics from 2025 offer cautious encouragement.
Baseball Savant data shows he ranked in the 77th percentile in bat speed, 82nd percentile in chase rate, and 84th percentile in walk percentage.
Those indicators suggest plate discipline and swing mechanics did not deteriorate entirely.
His expected batting average of .233 significantly exceeded his actual .199 mark, pointing toward potential regression toward the mean.
For Chicago, that statistical gap likely influenced the decision to extend an opportunity.
The Cubs are not asking Conforto to anchor the lineup.
They are evaluating whether he can provide situational power and veteran at-bats in a competitive roster environment.
Defensively, expectations remain measured.
Conforto’s inclusion will almost certainly hinge on offensive contribution rather than glove work.
If defense becomes the deciding factor late in games, McCormick stands as the preferred option. His career 32 Outs Above Average illustrates his value as a late-inning replacement.
Dylan Carlson adds additional versatility, capable of covering multiple outfield spots when necessary.
In that context, Conforto represents the highest offensive upside among the trio.
It is a low-risk proposition.
A minor league deal offers roster competition without long-term commitment.
If Conforto rediscovers even a fraction of his 2019 form, the Cubs gain a cost-effective power option.
If not, the financial impact remains minimal.
Counsell concluded his remarks by reinforcing that perspective.
“He’s a player that has had a lot of success in this league and if he can recapture some of that, we’re going to have a useful player.”
For a franchise positioning itself as a legitimate National League contender, depth signings often separate good rosters from durable ones.
The 162-game grind rarely unfolds according to script.
Injuries happen. Slumps emerge. Unexpected opportunities appear.
Conforto’s path back to relevance may begin quietly in Mesa, but the Cubs are betting that past performance and underlying data still carry weight.
Whether he ultimately cracks the major league roster will depend on spring results and early-season roster health.
For now, Chicago has simply added another variable — one with a proven track record and a statistical case for rebound.
In a competitive division race, sometimes that is exactly the kind of calculated gamble worth making.
