One Team Sends Message They Are Out On Conforto

There it was, plain as day on the field at New York Mets camp on Monday— number 30. But it wasn't Michael Conforto, the man who's worn that number for the last seven years in the blue and orange. No, it was reliever Joely Rodriguez, who the Mets just acquired from the Yankees. 

When a team gives away your number—the number you've worn for that long— it's a pretty good indication that you're no longer welcome back. 

Conforto is still an unsigned free agent... The last of the "name" players available. But his market has been moving slowly—not exactly "robust", as his agent Scott Boras recently insisted. Boras instead says that Conforto wanted to recover first from an arm injury suffered during the winter before offering his services around. 

He recently lost another suitor, when the Chicago White Sox, who were clearly in need of an outfield boost, went out and traded for AJ Pollock from the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

After reportedly turning down a $100M offer from the Mets last year, and then their $19M qualifying offer after the season, the Mets aren't keeping Conforto's uniform warm for him any longer. 

Photo Credit:  Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports