Report: Cubs agree to minor-league deal with Conforto

The Chicago Cubs agreed to a minor-league deal with outfielder Michael Conforto, reports ESPN's Jesse Rogers.

Conforto spent last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers and struggled immensely. The 32-year-old hit .199/.305/.333 with 12 home runs and 36 RBIs in 138 games while providing minus-five defensive runs saved in left field.

The Dodgers left him off every one of their postseason rosters.

"Michael had a down year last year but has been a good player in this league for quite a while," Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Monday, according to Jay Cohen of The Associated Press. "Sometimes when you sign guys, it's like, where is the opportunity here? And then we show up in five days and there's a big opportunity. So, that's how you look at this."

Before last season, Conforto had never recorded an OPS+ below 100. His best campaigns came with the New York Mets, as he posted an .824 OPS with 132 homers between 2015-2021.

"He's a player that's had a lot of success in this league, and if he can recapture some of that, we're going to have a useful player," Counsell said.

If Conforto makes the team, he should give the Cubs an additional outfield option alongside starters Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, and Pete Crow-Armstrong. He could also provide them with reps at designated hitter, where youngster Moisés Ballesteros is expected to start.