MESA, Ariz. — Michael Conforto’s first World Series title evoked mixed feelings.
Conforto experienced a “crazy roller-coaster ride of emotion” to win a championship with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season while producing the worst year of his career and not appearing in any of their playoff games.
That duality served as inspiration in his offseason work while Conforto evaluated his free-agent options, ultimately opting to join the Chicago Cubs on a minor-league deal and reporting to camp this week as a nonroster invitee.
“To achieve that dream but also not be on the roster through the playoffs — super bittersweet, super conflicting feeling,” Conforto said Wednesday. “Honestly felt like I didn’t earn it in a way, but still proud of that group of guys, proud of my ability to continue to be a good teammate and still uplift guys and show up in less ways than I wanted to, but I do still feel like I was a big part of it.
“But it leaves you hungry. It leaves you motivated, something I had to wrestle with through the offseason. … Every day you’re just thinking about that, and that’s a new fire to get you going and get you out of bed and get you working hard.”
Throughout his career, Conforto kept hearing how the Cubs organization is top-tier, notably in how they treat players and their families. So as he entered free agency for a fourth time, Conforto, who turns 34 on Sunday, wanted to be part of a winning team after getting a taste of it in Los Angeles.
He hasn’t played in the postseason since his 2015 rookie season when the New York Mets reached the World Series. He appeared in 12 games during their October run, including three starts in their National League Championship Series victory over the Cubs.
Combined with loving road trips to Chicago and great experiences playing at Wrigley Field, the Cubs had a lot of what Conforto was looking for in his next destination, even with the roster situation.
“It ended up feeling like, in my gut, it’s what I wanted to do,” he said.
Manager Craig Counsell was honest with Conforto when they met Tuesday. Counsell made clear the Cubs have three outfielders who will play a lot. Conforto understands the situation and wants to show what he still is capable of. He will get ample playing time this spring and feels confident he can make the team and help the Cubs win games.
“Obviously as a free agent, you want the guarantee, you want the roster spot, and when it came down to that not being an option for me and taking this deal with the Cubs, it was an exciting moment,” Conforto said. “Like, I didn’t really expect it, but it felt good to have that new perspective and it felt exciting and new again. I was like, dude, I feel like I’m a prospect. I’ve got to come out here and really work and be motivated.”
A pathway for at least one nonroster camp player became more viable after veteran infielder Tyler Austin had patellar tendon debridement surgery on his right knee Tuesday, which will sideline him for months. Austin had an inside track to being a key bench player, and the Cubs could use someone like Conforto and his big-league experience.
But they will need a version that looks more like what the lefty slugger produced in his first eight seasons (.251 average, .348 on-base percentage, 120 OPS+) than the hitter who put up a .199 average, .305 OBP and 79 OPS+ in 138 games for the Dodgers.
“You’re betting on the history,” Counsell said. “He had a rough year last year, but he’s been a really good player.”
Conforto believes that over the course of last season, he lost discipline in his routine and started trying to make in-season adjustments. He felt he needed to get back to what made him a successful hitter, so he called one of his friends from Oregon State and teamed up with him for a few weeks in the offseason.
One of Conforto’s former big-league hitting coaches also connected him with former All-Star Howie Kendrick, and they spent weeks together. Kendrick worked with Conforto to clean up his swing path by working on his lower half, particularly his legs.
“Really just kept it simple,” Conforto said. “I wanted to get back to me, kind of find myself again, and I feel great.”
The opportunity to reset in the offseason and move past the blur of last year kept things in perspective for Conforto. He isn’t far removed from being a productive big-leaguer, having posted a 115 OPS+ with 27 doubles and 20 home runs in 2024 for the San Francisco Giants.
“It definitely feels like it’s right there, I just have to hone the skills and get the reps,” Conforto said. “I was itching to get into a camp. Once games start, it’s really hard to sit on the sidelines, so we’re starting from a much better spot physically and mentally. Just show up every day, do what I can and have a great attitude and see what happens.
“There’s something freeing, nothing to lose, everything to gain. Go out there and be you and do your best.”
