Dodgers’ Dave Roberts Firmly Backs Michael Conforto as Deadline Looms
LOS ANGELES (July 24, 2025) — With the July 30 MLB trade deadline rapidly approaching, the Los Angeles Dodgers find themselves at a crossroads regarding veteran outfielder Michael Conforto. Struggling this season, Conforto has drawn trade speculation—but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is standing firmly behind him for now.
At a morning appearance on Dodger Blue, Roberts was crystal clear on his stance after Conforto has shown signs of rebounding in mid-July:
“I’ve shown my confidence in him… I play him, and I think it’s still in there,” Roberts said. “I’m just going to keep running him out there and expect him to be productive… I believe in Michael.” (Dodger Blue)
A Rocky Road to July
Conforto’s first season with the Dodgers—a one-year, $17 million deal—fell far below expectations. By mid-season, he was hitting a dismal .176 with a .610 OPS, ranking at the bottom among qualified hitters. His defensive metrics were similarly underwhelming, sitting around the 10th percentile in Outs Above Average (SI). That slump intensified whispers that Los Angeles might seek an upgrade before the deadline.
Despite this, his recent performance has given some hope. Since July 11, Conforto has slashed an encouraging .318/.348/.500 across his last eight games, including multiple extra-base hits (Yahoo Sports, Dodger Blue). Roberts noted that while Conforto has hit the ball hard, it’s often been right into defenders—a frustrating but improving sign (Dodger Blue).
“Critical” Stretch Ahead
Roberts doesn’t sugarcoat Conforto’s situation. In late June, with Conforto briefly breaking out, he warned that the next month would be “critical” to determine whether the outfielder deserves his roster and lineup spot (SI):
“It’s critical… I think I’ve shown my faith in him… But we’re going to continue to look and figure out ways we can get better… It’s important for him to continue playing well.” (SI)
Front Office Weighs Options
President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman’s earlier comments echoed Roberts’s long leash—but were more cautious. In mid-June, Friedman stated:
“To date, obviously, Michael hasn’t performed up to what… we expected. But… I would bet that his next two months are way better than his last two.” (SI)
Friedman added that while the Dodgers remain open to adding a left fielder in the event of injury or ongoing poor performance, such a move would come only if someone “meets a very high bar” (SI).
Meanwhile, the team’s depth—highlighted by Hyeseong Kim’s emergence and Tommy Edman’s utility value—gives them internal flexibility, even without trading for a replacement (SI).
Trade Rumors Persist
Despite Roberts’s reassurances, trade chatter continues. Some outlets suggest the Dodgers are monitoring players like Brent Rooker or Taylor Ward (ClutchPoints). Executive Andrew Friedman left the door open—but emphasized that replacing Conforto would require the right fit (SI).
Path Ahead
From here, Roberts and the Dodgers will be watching Conforto closely over the next week. If his July resurgence holds, it may be enough to secure his role through the stretch run. If not, the glut of outfield talent in L.A. could push Conforto out the door at the deadline.
