Dave Roberts predicts breakout season for forgotten Dodgers free agent signing

In a quest to defend their title, the Los Angeles Dodgers threw money at every potential area of weakness this winter - and while names like Tanner Scott, Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki received most of the attention, forgotten outfield addition Michael Conforto could be a game-changer for his new team.

Coming off two years in San Francisco, Conforto is looking to return to the level of production that made him a fan favorite in Queens early in his career - and his manager, Dave Roberts, has tapped him as a breakout candidate this year.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has his eye on the veteran outfielder, singling him out as a breakout candidate on a star-studded roster in comments to the Orange County Register.

“Like I said from the very beginning – I think he’s going to be one of my picks to click this year as far as a guy that I think is going to really take a step forward,” Roberts said. “Not saying he’s Teo of ’24. But that’s kind of the light I see him in.”

More hitter-friendly ballpark could be a huge difference-maker for Dodgers' Michael Conforto

The poor offensive conditions at Oracle Park killed Conforto's overall numbers last year - evidenced by a more than 200-point gap between his home and road OPS. Dodger Stadium played as a neutral ballpark in 2024, while the home of the Giants ranked as the fourth-worst park for hitters in all of baseball.

From 2015 to 2021, Conforto played a key role for the Mets, posting a 124 OPS+ with a pair of 3.5+ bWAR campaigns to his credit. But after missing the 2022 season, he's failed to re-establish himself as that level of player in recent years. Given the production around him in the Dodgers lineup and a more hitter-friendly home ballpark, Roberts may be right: Conforto could be in for a big year.

“I think that our guys have seen some things that they think can make him get back to what he used to be in ’15, more of a productive hitter,” Roberts said. “Where he’s at in his maturation as a ballplayer – I just think things are really lining up.”

If Roberts and the Dodgers get plus production from guys like Conforto, Hyeseong Kim (post-promotion) and Tommy Edman, this is a lineup with no obvious holes. I'm sure that's just what the rest of the league wants to hear after watching them win the World Series last fall and then dominate offseason headlines all winter long.