{"id":156777,"date":"2026-02-26T01:24:18","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T01:24:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=156777"},"modified":"2026-02-26T01:24:18","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T01:24:18","slug":"counsell-breaks-his-silence-in-chicago-craig-counsell-finally-addresses-the-cubs-michael-conforto-signing-and-his-first-public-words-hint-at-a-bigger-vision-for-this-roster-than-fans-initia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=156777","title":{"rendered":"COUNSELL BREAKS HIS SILENCE IN CHICAGO: Craig Counsell Finally Addresses The Cubs\u2019 Michael Conforto Signing, And His First Public Words Hint At A Bigger Vision For This Roster Than Fans Initially Realized"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chicago Cubs<\/span><\/span> Manager Craig Counsell<\/span><\/span> Explains the Logic Behind the Michael Conforto<\/span><\/span> Signing<\/h2>\n
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MESA \u2014 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

This week at Spring Training, Cubs manager Craig Counsell addressed the move publicly for the first time, offering insight into the front office\u2019s thinking.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think at this point we\u2019re just looking to bring in candidates to strengthen the roster,\u201d Counsell said. \u201cMichael had a down year last year but has been a good player in this league for quite a while.\u201d<\/p>\n

That framing matters.<\/p>\n

Conforto\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

He hit just .199, a career low, while striking out 121 times in 486 plate appearances \u2014 nearly a 25 percent strikeout rate.<\/p>\n

The power did not fully disappear, as he still managed 12 home runs, but the overall offensive consistency that once defined him was missing.<\/p>\n

Yet Counsell\u2019s comments suggest the Cubs view the downturn less as a collapse and more as a correction opportunity.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes when you sign guys it\u2019s like: Where is the opportunity here?\u201d Counsell added. \u201cAnd then we show up in five days and there\u2019s a big opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n

For a team aiming to contend, that flexibility is strategic rather than reactive.<\/p>\n

Conforto\u2019s r\u00e9sum\u00e9 provides context for optimism.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Approaching his 33rd birthday, Conforto is not a developing prospect, but he is not past the traditional power peak window either.<\/p>\n

The underlying metrics from 2025 offer cautious encouragement.<\/p>\n

Baseball Savant data shows he ranked in the 77th percentile in bat speed, 82nd percentile in chase rate, and 84th percentile in walk percentage.<\/p>\n

Those indicators suggest plate discipline and swing mechanics did not deteriorate entirely.<\/p>\n

His expected batting average of .233 significantly exceeded his actual .199 mark, pointing toward potential regression toward the mean.<\/p>\n

For Chicago, that statistical gap likely influenced the decision to extend an opportunity.<\/p>\n

The Cubs are not asking Conforto to anchor the lineup.<\/p>\n

They are evaluating whether he can provide situational power and veteran at-bats in a competitive roster environment.<\/p>\n

Defensively, expectations remain measured.<\/p>\n

\"Craig<\/p>\n

Conforto\u2019s inclusion will almost certainly hinge on offensive contribution rather than glove work.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Dylan Carlson adds additional versatility, capable of covering multiple outfield spots when necessary.<\/p>\n

In that context, Conforto represents the highest offensive upside among the trio.<\/p>\n

It is a low-risk proposition.<\/p>\n

A minor league deal offers roster competition without long-term commitment.<\/p>\n

If Conforto rediscovers even a fraction of his 2019 form, the Cubs gain a cost-effective power option.<\/p>\n

If not, the financial impact remains minimal.<\/p>\n

Counsell concluded his remarks by reinforcing that perspective.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a player that has had a lot of success in this league and if he can recapture some of that, we\u2019re going to have a useful player.\u201d<\/p>\n

For a franchise positioning itself as a legitimate National League contender, depth signings often separate good rosters from durable ones.<\/p>\n

The 162-game grind rarely unfolds according to script.<\/p>\n

Injuries happen. Slumps emerge. Unexpected opportunities appear.<\/p>\n

Conforto\u2019s path back to relevance may begin quietly in Mesa, but the Cubs are betting that past performance and underlying data still carry weight.<\/p>\n

Whether he ultimately cracks the major league roster will depend on spring results and early-season roster health.<\/p>\n

For now, Chicago has simply added another variable \u2014 one with a proven track record and a statistical case for rebound.<\/p>\n

In a competitive division race, sometimes that is exactly the kind of calculated gamble worth making.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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