bleacherreport
The Baltimore Orioles have decided not to exercise their $20 million team option on outfielder Luis Robert Jr., instead paying a $2 million buyout and allowing him to become a free agent, as reported by ESPN's Alden Gonzalez.
Robert was once considered one of baseball's brightest young talents, earning the No. 3 spot on MLB.com's 2020 prospect rankings while in the Chicago White Sox organization. The Cuban outfielder originally signed with Chicago in 2017, receiving a $26 million signing bonus. Before making his major league debut, Robert inked a six-year, $50 million contract in January 2020 that included club options for 2026 and 2027.
He finished as the runner-up for the 2020 American League Rookie of the Year and also captured a Gold Glove Award. However, injuries derailed his progress in 2021 and 2022, limiting him to just 166 of a possible 324 games. Those setbacks included a complete tear of his right hip flexor in 2021 and a sprained left wrist in 2022.
Robert's breakthrough came in 2023, when he slugged 38 home runs with 80 RBI and an .857 OPS over 145 games, earning All-Star and Silver Slugger honors. But health issues resurfaced in 2024 (Grade 2 flexor strain in his right hip) and 2025 (Grade 2 hamstring strain and groin tightness), causing him to miss 114 games across those two seasons. During that span, he batted .223 with a .660 OPS, 28 homers, and 88 RBI in 210 games.
Chicago traded Robert to the New York Mets last January for Luisangel Acuña and minor leaguer Truman Pauley, and he opened the year as the Mets' starting center fielder. More injuries followed, this time a lumbar disc herniation, restricting him to 58 games with the Mets, where he hit .223 with a .702 OPS, 10 home runs, and 23 RBI. New York placed him on outright waivers on August 29, and two days later, the Orioles claimed the 29-year-old for the remainder of the season.
Robert landed on the injured list again, this time with left hamstring discomfort, and appeared in just three games for Baltimore, going 2-for-11 with a homer and three RBI. Overall, he slashed .221/.300/.407 with 11 home runs and 26 RBI in 2026.
Key Analysis
Robert's decline in production and persistent injury problems made the $20 million option an easy decision for the Orioles to pass on. While he showed flashes of elite talent in 2023, his inability to stay on the field has significantly diminished his value. The buyout allows Baltimore to allocate resources elsewhere, while Robert will look to rebuild his stock as a free agent.
Originally reported by bleacherreport.