PORT ST. LUCIE — Dominic Smith has not been capable of textual content Michael Conforto for a lot of the offseason, and now he thinks he is aware of why.
Smith has resisted reaching out to his buddy to ask why he has not signed with a staff but — now with below per week earlier than the common season begins — eager to be courteous and never intrude.
So the revelation from Scott Boras on Wednesday that Conforto injured his proper shoulder diving in a drill in January, which has slowed his market, made a whole lot of sense.
“I don’t assume anyone knew. All of us had been just about questioning the identical factor, like, What’s occurring?” Smith stated Thursday earlier than the Mets hosted the Nationals at Clover Park. “It’s a bizarre scenario the place you don’t need to hit anyone up and ask like, ‘Hey, why haven’t you signed but?’ You simply need the whole lot to play out.”
Conforto’s agent advised The Submit’s Joel Sherman that the outfielder requested to delay contract talks till Conforto’s shoulder was absolutely healed. The 28-year-old’s swing aircraft now could be “regular,” Boras stated, and he's figuring out for groups in Arizona.
“It’s unhappy, however I’m longing for him,” Smith stated, “and hopefully a staff on the market indicators him as a result of he’s nonetheless an excellent participant. He’s nonetheless tremendous younger.”
With Conforto’s expertise, he might be “a pair hundred million dollars” someday, Smith stated. However his 2021 season — wherein he hit .232 with 14 dwelling runs in a down yr — absolutely has damage his market.
As has the actual fact the Mets prolonged a qualifying supply, which Boras and Conforto rejected. No matter non-Mets staff that indicators him will owe the Mets a draft choose.
“It’s powerful. I don’t know precisely what’s occurring along with his scenario, how [the qualifying offer] impacts him,” stated pal Jeff McNeil, who additionally had not heard till now in regards to the harm. “However I do know that being tied to his signing would possibly make some groups delicate.”
Boras didn't supply a time-frame regarding when Conforto will signal with a staff, however stated, “There’s a substantial amount of curiosity on this man.”
The Mets, who imported outfielders Starling Marte and Mark Canha, haven't proven curiosity.
“We’re all tremendous shut with him,” stated Smith, who has performed within the majors alongside Conforto since 2017. “Clearly, as soon as he indicators, we’re going to keep in touch and I’m certain discuss a bunch.”
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