Well, the Cubs are simply trying to get lucky here. MLB insider Jon Heyman reported overnight that the Cubs have signed free agent outfielder Michael Conforto and unless there’s an injury on the active roster that hasn’t been made public yet it is safe to assume it’s a minor league contract for the 32-year-old.
Conforto played with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2025, after he signed a one-year, $17 million to become their starting left fielder. However, the left-handed batter struggled immensely and was ultimately kept off the Dodgers’ postseason roster after Conforto put up a career worst slash line of .199/.305/.333. His 83 wRC+ ranked 15th lowest among 177 players with at least 450 plate appearances in the 2025 season.
Flat out bad. Conforto began the regular season on fire, going 8-for-26, with a pair of home runs and four doubles in his first eight games, but then batted .191 with a .605 OPS and 75 wRC+ in the final 455 plate appearances of 2025. The only positive aspect at the plate for Conforto was his plate discipline as the left-handed batter posted an 11.5 BB%, in line with his career numbers.
Like any contending team, the Cubs are trying to win at the margins and that means bringing in guys who do have the ability to contribute in the majors. Although Conforto had brutal numbers with the Dodgers in 2025, he had a solid 2024 campaign with the San Francisco Giants. During the 2024 season Conforto recorded a 112 wRC+ and hit 20 home runs in 130 games.
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The outfielder hasn’t been the same slugger on offense since his 2022 left shoulder surgery, but the Cubs don’t need Conforto to be an All-Star hitter like he was during his early run with the New York Mets. Any good team will bring in veterans that have good track records and roll the dice during spring training, looking if there’s still something there.
He’s a known name with a better past than other guys who have been signed this offseason to compete for a bench spot, so Conforto will draw more attention. The Cubs have brought in Chas McCormick and Dylan Carlson to compete for a fourth outfielder job, while Justin Dean was also added to the 40-man roster as depth in Triple-A. Conforto could find a way on the roster as a left-handed bat off the bench.
The Cubs have four projected starters that bat from the left side with Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Michael Busch and Moises Ballesteros will be in the lineup most of the season if healthy. However, right now the Cubs do not have a lefty bat who is guaranteed to make the team as a backup. Carlson is a switch-hitter, but if he makes the team his playing time would come against left-handed pitching, batting from the right side of the plate.
We’ll see how Conforto looks during spring training. Does he stick around at Triple-A if he doesn’t make the Opening Day roster or will he pursue a spot with a different MLB team? He is only 32-years-old and not too far removed from a decent season, so it’s not impossible to see Conforto earn a bench spot. Right now, though, he’s just one of several guys competing for a bench role on the 2026 Cubs.
