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By Jon Paul Hoornstra
Contributing Sports Writer
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Now that the deadlines for position players and pitchers to report to major league spring training camps have passed, the free agent market is all but totally depleted.
Outfielder Michael Conforto is still available after his lone season in Los Angeles resulted in a World Series title. Conforto did little to help the Dodgers in 2025, however. He endured a career-worst season at the plate, slashing .199/.305/.333 in 138 games. His batting average would have been the lowest in MLB, had he registered enough plate appearances to qualify for a batting title.
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The Houston Astros, coming off an 87-win season, aren't desperate for roster help on the surface. Nonetheless, they have some interest in signing Conforto, according to a new report.
"With their chances of trading 3B Isaac Paredes diminishing, the Astros have expressed interest in free agent OF Michael Conforto, a source tells MLB.com," Astros beat writer Brian McTaggart wrote on X on Feb. 18. "A LH hitter, the 32-year-old slashed .199/.305/.333 last year with 12 homers and 36 RBIs in 128 games for the Dodgers."
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Paredes, 27, made the All-Star team for the second consecutive season in 2025, slashing .254/.352/.458 with 20 home runs and 53 RBIs in 102 games.
But since the Astros acquired veteran Carlos Correa at last season's trade deadline, and incumbent shortstop Jeremy Peña their best defender at the position, the left side of their infield is full. Paredes has experience at first and second base as well, but with Christian Walker and Jose Altuve manning the two positions, respectively, there's no obvious spot for Paredes there either.
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Trading Paredes would not only leave their infield alignment more settled, it would potentially allow them to add a left-handed hitter to complement Yordan Alvarez in an otherwise right-handed heavy batting order.
Conforto, an All-Star with the New York Mets in 2017, would fit that bill. But he would likely have to take a significant pay cut from the $17 million he made last year in Los Angeles.
The Dodgers didn't include Conforto on any of their postseason rosters, so he had to watch his teammates lead the Dodgers to a second consecutive World Series title. At least in Houston, he might be able to contribute to a team looking to return to the top of the American League West.
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