Michael Conforto, the veteran MLB outfielder, has officially found a new home for the 2026 season, signing with the Chicago Cubs after a disappointing stint with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2025.
Conforto, who spent more than a decade in the major leagues, had hoped to revive his career in Los Angeles but ultimately struggled throughout the season, posting the worst numbers of his career. In 2025, he batted just .199 with an on-base percentage of .305 and a slugging percentage of .333.
He recorded 12 home runs, 36 RBIs, and 54 runs scored, culminating in an 83 wRC+, far below his career standard.
The Dodgers had invested considerable effort in helping Conforto adjust his swing during the offseason and continued working with him throughout the year.
While he had brief periods of improvement, the changes never produced sustained success. His struggles limited his options in free agency, though several teams, including the Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox, reportedly showed interest before he ultimately decided to join the Cubs.
Conforto’s move to Chicago can be seen as part of an informal outfield swap between the Cubs and Dodgers.
Kyle Tucker, formerly with the Cubs, has moved to Los Angeles, while Conforto heads to Wrigley Field hoping to reignite his career. Despite a down year, Conforto has a long history of productive offense.
From his major league debut in 2015 with the New York Mets through the 2024 season with the San Francisco Giants, he compiled a .251 batting average with a .348 on-base percentage and a .456 slugging percentage. Over 1,012 career games, he has 167 home runs, 520 RBIs, and 514 runs scored with a career 119 wRC+.
Conforto, a former All-Star, has shown his ability to perform at a high level in the past, recording four seasons with a wRC+ above 125, including two seasons above 145.
He also has postseason experience, having contributed during the Mets’ 2015 run to the World Series. In that playoff appearance, he batted .200 with three home runs, demonstrating his capacity to perform on big stages despite the challenges he faced later in his career.
The Cubs are expected to introduce Conforto as part of their 2026 roster during spring training, allowing him to reclaim the form that made him one of the league’s notable offensive players in previous seasons.
Chicago fans will have a chance to see him in action against his former team, the Dodgers, when the two clubs meet at Dodger Stadium from April 24 through April 26.
Conforto is also set to receive his 2025 World Series championship ring from his time with Los Angeles, a recognition of his contributions to the Dodgers’ title-winning campaign despite his personal struggles at the plate.
Conforto’s career has also been marked by resilience. After a shoulder injury in 2021 required surgery and sidelined him for the entire 2022 season, he signed a two-year, $36 million deal with the Giants and later moved to the Dodgers for a one-year, $17 million contract.
While his numbers in recent seasons have fallen, Conforto remains a versatile outfielder capable of playing left, center, and right field as well as designated hitter when needed.
Now with the Cubs, Conforto has a chance to re-establish himself as a reliable major league hitter and contribute to a team looking to make a push in the National League Central.
Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if he can regain the form that made him an All-Star and one of the game’s respected offensive talents.
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