The Arizona Diamondbacks are heading into Spring Training with more questions than answers in their outfield, and the injury bug couldn’t have hit at a worse time. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is still working his way back from a torn ACL, and now Corbin Carroll, the reigning NL Rookie of the Year, is sidelined after undergoing surgery to repair a broken hamate bone in his right hand.
That’s a tough one-two punch for a team looking to build on last season’s momentum. With two key outfielders out of the mix-one long-term, one for an undetermined stretch-the D-backs suddenly find themselves scrambling for a stopgap solution. And according to some league observers, there’s a name out there that could make a lot of sense: Michael Conforto.
Conforto, a former All-Star and longtime NL West foe, might not be the flashiest option on the market right now, but he checks a lot of boxes for what Arizona needs in the short term. He’s a left-handed bat with pop, he’s got experience in both corner outfield spots, and-perhaps most importantly-he’s likely available on a short-term deal.
Let’s be clear: Conforto’s 2025 season with the Dodgers wasn’t exactly one to remember. He slashed .199/.305/.333 over 138 games, with 12 home runs and 36 RBI.
Those numbers don’t jump off the page, and there were stretches where he struggled to find his rhythm at the plate. But the year before, he was far more productive-.237/.309/.450 with 20 homers and 66 RBI in 130 games.
That’s a pretty significant uptick, and it shows there’s still something in the tank.
The Diamondbacks don’t need Conforto to be a savior. They need him to be a stabilizer.
Right now, their projected outfield includes Alek Thomas in center-who, despite his defensive upside, has posted a combined 0.1 bWAR over the last two seasons-and Jordan Lawlar, a natural infielder, potentially shifting to left field. Lawlar has just 108 big-league plate appearances under his belt, and a .478 OPS to show for it.
That’s a lot to ask of a young player still adjusting to major league pitching, let alone a new position.
Conforto, on the other hand, brings a veteran presence and a track record of handling big league pitching. If the price is right-he’s projected to sign for around $6.7 million on a one-year deal-this is the kind of low-risk, high-upside move that can help Arizona stay afloat until Gurriel and Carroll return.
And if he gets hot? Even better.
If not, the team has flexibility to move on midseason.
This is the kind of roster patchwork that can make or break a team’s early-season push. The Diamondbacks surprised a lot of people last year with their grit and resilience. Making a move for a guy like Conforto wouldn’t just plug a hole-it would send a message that they’re not planning to take a step back while waiting for their stars to heal.
Spring Training is almost here. If Arizona wants to keep pace in a loaded NL West, they’ll need to act fast.