The Mariners introduced that they’ve signed outfielder Víctor Robles to a contract extension. It reportedly ensures him $9.75MM over the subsequent two years, which features a $1.25MM signing bonus. He can earn an additional $2MM by way of bonuses/escalators, $1MM in every season, $500K for reaching 500 plate appearances and one other $500K for 600 plate appearances. The Mariners can have a $9MM membership choice for 2027. Robles is represented by Republik Sports activities.
The deal is an illustration of what a exceptional turnaround it’s been for Robles prior to now two months. After years of struggles with the Nationals, he was designated for project on the finish of Might. They reportedly then explored trades with different golf equipment however couldn’t discover any takers. Since Robles had sufficient service time to reject an outright project whereas preserving what remained of this yr’s $2.65MM wage, the Nats merely launched him.
The Mariners took a shot on him, which primarily got here with no threat. The Nats have been nonetheless on the hook for many of his wage, leaving the Mariners to pay simply the prorated league minimal, with that quantity subtracted from what the Nats pay.
For that minimal funding, the Mariners have already been vastly rewarded. In 42 video games for Seattle, he has three house runs and a batting line of .303/.372/.450. That’s 39% higher than league common offense, per wRC+. His .349 batting common on balls in play is certainly on the excessive facet however he’s solely hanging out at a 16.3% price and that might be robust offense even with a little bit of regression.
That’s very true as a result of Robles is able to offering worth even when he doesn’t have the bat in his palms. He has stolen 12 bases in 12 tries since coming to Seattle and supplied competent glovework within the outfield, taking part in all three positions on the grass. FanGraphs calculates that he has been value 1.2 wins above alternative already in his temporary stint with the Mariners.
That has been particularly precious for a membership that has struggled to generate offense this yr. They’ve arguably the perfect pitching employees within the league, with their team-wide 3.42 tops within the majors, however the lack of punch on the plate has stored them combating for his or her lives. They’re 63-56, successfully even with the Astros within the division however 2.5 video games again of a Wild Card spot.
Robles was an impending free agent however the Mariners have seen sufficient that they’re prepared to maintain him round for one more two and perhaps three years. After all, they’re not simply making this determination based mostly on the 42 video games he has performed since altering uniforms. Throughout his time with the Nats, he was as soon as thought of top-of-the-line prospects within the sport. He was on Baseball America’s prime 100 record in 4 straight seasons from 2016 to 2019, getting as excessive as fifth total in 2018.
He gave the impression to be delivering on that prospect hype in 2019, serving to the Nats win the World Collection that yr. His .255/.326/.419 batting line was a bit beneath par, translating to a 92 wRC+, however he was capable of produce 3.7 fWAR due to his protection and velocity. He stole 28 bases on the yr, racking up 25 Defensive Runs Saved and 21 Outs Above Common. Provided that he was solely 22 years previous on the time, it appeared truthful to count on that he was solely scratching the floor of the participant he was about to develop into.
Sadly, the alternative occurred, as his efficiency dropped considerably for the subsequent few years. For the 2020-22 seasons, he hit simply .216/.291/.306 for a wRC+ of 66. He did spend a while on the injured record however that was a big pattern dimension of 965 plate appearances.
Regardless of these struggles, the Nats caught by him, frequently tendering him contracts as he reached arbitration. He gave the impression to be getting issues again on monitor final yr, as he hit .299/.385/.364 for a wRC+ of 112, however he was restricted to only 36 video games on the season due to again spasms within the lumbar backbone. Nonetheless, the Nats agreed to the aforementioned $2.65MM wage for 2024, hoping that Robles may each keep wholesome and put his previous struggles behind him. However this yr acquired out to a shaky begin, as Robles missed a few month resulting from a left hamstring pressure and hit simply .120/.281/.120 in 14 video games for Washington earlier than they determined to chop him free.
The Mariners have been rewarded with the model of Robles that the Nats thought that they had many instances prior to now. The mixture of his previous prospect pedigree and his latest efficiency clearly has given the M’s some hope that Robles can maintain producing for just a few extra years. There’s clearly some threat there based mostly on how poorly he has carried out at instances prior to now, however they’re additionally not sticking their neck out with huge sums of cash.
The assure works out to lower than $5MM per yr, which is pretty modest in baseball phrases. Even when Robles takes a step again on the plate and is merely a speed-and-defense fourth outfielder, that’s not a drastic waste of assets. And if he can proceed to maintain hitting, then there’s loads of upside for the M’s.
For Robles, he’s maybe leaving a bit of cash on the desk right here, nevertheless it’s additionally comprehensible that he would wish to lock in some important earnings. If he had continued to carry out at this stage for the remainder of the season, he seemingly would have earned a bigger assure than the one he’s agreeing to now. However as he absolutely is aware of from the winding path of his profession, it’s not a assure that it’s going to proceed to go so properly. In any case, it was simply two months in the past that each one the golf equipment within the league handed on the prospect to amass him whereas he’s making a reasonably modest wage. If Robles had suffered one other harm or just struggled on the plate down the stretch, he might not have been capable of safe a assure of even this dimension.
He additionally nonetheless has future incomes energy that he may faucet into if he retains performing. Resulting from debuting at such a younger age, he’s nonetheless simply 27 years previous. This deal will cowl his age-28 and -29 seasons with the choice giving the M’s an opportunity to manage him by way of his age-30 season. If he’s capable of sustain his all-around efficiency by way of the course of this contract, he may line himself up for a extra sizable deal at that time. If the choice is triggered and he hits these escalators, he can have already banked $20.75MM off this deal.
The Mariners additionally get a headstart on bolstering their future outfield. They have already got Julio Rodríguez locked in for a few years and the recently-acquired Randy Arozarena is controllable by way of arbitration by way of 2026. Mitch Haniger has yet another yr on his deal after this and the membership additionally has pre-arb guys like Luke Raley and Dominic Canzone within the combine, although Raley has been getting a number of taking part in time at first base these days. Justin Turner figures to be within the designated hitter spot quite a bit for the remainder of this yr however is an impending free agent.
It’s arguably a crowded combine however president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto is among the recreation’s most lively determination makers and will deal from this group within the offseason if the chance presents itself. For now, he’s locked in a participant who is maybe breaking out, however with out breaking the financial institution. Robles, in the meantime, has secured himself a very nice bit of monetary safety that didn’t appear doable only a few quick weeks in the past.
Yancen Pujols first reported that the 2 sides had agreed to an extension with a $9.75MM assure (Spanish-language hyperlink on X). Jorge Castillo of ESPN had the two-year size, membership choice and $2MM in bonuses/escalators (X hyperlink). Daniel Kramer of MLB.com supplied the specifics of the bonuses/escalators in addition to the signing bonus (X hyperlink).
