Michael Conforto Landing Spots: 3 top fits for All-Star outfielder after end of $17M Dodgers deal

Michael Conforto arrived in Los Angeles last spring, hoping the Dodgers would be a jumping-off point back to form. The script was clean: one year, $17 million, playoff contender, and a chance to re-establish himself after shoulder surgery cost him the 2022 season and slowed the years that followed in San Francisco.

Instead, 2025 became a test no one expected to last quite that long. Conforto hit .199/.305/.333 with 12 home runs across 138 games, posted a .637 OPS, and, when October rolled around, found himself on the outside looking in. The market hasn’t suddenly forgotten who Conforto was for most of the past decade.

From 2015 through 2021, he was one of the steadiest left-handed corner threats in the National League, a hitter with patience, real pull power, and a knack for getting on base against right-handed pitching.

Even now, with age softening the ceiling but not the resume, three teams stand out as his best next fits.

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#1. Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies are built to win now, but they’re also built around defined roles. Bryce Harper has shifted lanes, Kyle Schwarber is now a free agent, Trea Turner brings speed and defense, Bohm brings range but the offense could use one more professional left-handed presence who doesn’t need to start every day.

Conforto can take 3-4 starts a week in a corner, pinch-hit, draw walks, and boost OBP against right-handers without needing to be The Guy. On a one-year deal, Philadelphia gets a bat without a headache.

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#2. Kansas City Royals

The Royals don’t need theories about upside, they need upside itself. Their 2025 outfield ranked last in baseball by wRC+, finishing 24th or worse at every spot.

This is exactly the franchise window that signs a bounce-back corner bat on a short deal, protects his knee with DH reps, and hopes the hitter-friendly lanes in Kansas City play kind enough for one more productive stretch.

If he rebounds even to league-average offense, the contract looks smart. If not, the deal stays short, the pressure stays low and KC keeps swinging at bigger development plans.

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#3. Detroit Tigers

Detroit just played itself ahead of schedule in 2025, riding pitching and timely offense into the Wild Card picture.

But what the Tigers lacked all season was depth in the everyday lineup with a mix of left-handed stability in the corners, someone who can hit when asked and field without needing excellence.

Conforto slots into a part-time starter, full-time bench upside role for a club that wants to contend again without crossing long-term wires.