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Dodgers May Be Forced to Cut Third Slumping Veteran After $34 Million ‘Bust’
The Los Angeles Dodgers have some weaknesses on their roster and their patience might be running out. The team has clear championship aspirations after another offseason of significant star additions. And the Dodgers made it clear that nostalgia has no place in their march toward the World Series.
The Dodgers recently cut their two longest-tenured position players in Austin Barnes and Chris Taylor. Now, as a third veteran continues to slump, they could be looking to part ways with Michael Conforto, too. After joining the Dodgers on a one-year, $17 million contract, Conforto has slashed a dismal .163/.297/.261 so far this season. His performance has been so bad that Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller ranked him as one of the sport’s worst “contract busts” of the season.
And given that the Dodgers pay a 100% tax on their payroll this season, that bust has really been a $34 million hit. Conforto has struggled so mightily, the Dodgers might have little choice but to cut him. “At this point, they probably wouldn’t even be able to trade him away,” Miller wrote. “If he doesn’t start showing legitimate signs of life, the Dodgers might just have to bite the bullet and drop him like the (Houston) Astros did with José Abreau last June.”
After the Dodgers did likewise with Taylor and Barnes to clear some room for more promising roster talent, Conforto could be next. Moving him off the roster would make some room for another prospect call up or a trade acquisition. And as the Dodgers look for more production on their way to another World Series, no player seems safe from a harsh wake up call.
