The Baltimore Orioles claimed veteran outfielder Luis Robert Jr. off waivers from the New York Mets on Monday. The acquisition came after the Mets placed Robert on waivers on Saturday following a slow start to the season. Chelsea Janes of SNY was first to report on the development.
Luis Robert Jr. Claimed
The Mets acquired Robert via trade from the Chicago White Sox during the tail end of the offseason. The plan going into the regular season was for him to be their everyday centerfielder. But the framework failed to materialize due to the team placing the former All-Star on the Injured List on April 26 with a lumbar spine herniation that sidelined him for three months.
Luis Robert Jr., however, resurfaced when he made his return. In August, he went on separate three and four game hitting streaks. He put together another six-game hitting streak that included a two home run performance against the White Sox on August 22. He’s also slashing .223/.303/.399 with a .702 OPS.
For those reasons, Robert was picked up by the Orioles, who have won five of their last six and own a 68–69 record. Robert provides them with another veteran presence and right-handed batter for the remainder of 2026.
Other Options
The Orioles are also taking on the more than $5 million guaranteed on his current contract. This includes around $3 million in remaining salary and a $2 million buyout of next year’s $20 million player option.
The Mets were unwilling to pick up the player option due to Luis Robert Jr’s lack of production at the start of this season. Rookies Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing have also proved to be more effective than Robert. Fellow outfielder Juan Soto also made his return from the Injured List and the team is planning for him to retake his spot in left.
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