The $5 million question surrounding Luis Robert…
The Mets’ Luis Robert Jr. gamble could possibly be coming to an unceremonious end — but only if somebody is prepared to pay for it.
Robert was positioned on waivers Saturday, The Post’s Joel Sherman confirmed, giving him 48 hours to probably land with a contender and still be eligible for their postseason roster.
The outfielder pinch hit in the eighth inning of the Mets’ 6-2 win over the Astros at Citi Field and can continue to play while on waivers.
Luis Robert Jr. watches his home run during the seventh inning of a current
recreation against the Braves at Truist Park. Getty Images
If a workforce decides to declare him, they’d owe the approximate $3 million remaining on his contract for this season plus a $2 million buyout.
If other MLB groups resolve that Robert, 29, isn’t definitely worth the roughly $5 million, a seemingly end result based on his struggles, he’d end up back with the Mets.
They acquired Robert from the White Sox in January, hoping the deal would deliver a lacking piece for a contending season, but Robert missed time due to an injury in addition to underwhelming at the plate. The Mets spiraled toward a misplaced yr. And then they unsuccessfully tried to commerce Robert forward of the deadline.
Through most of the early-season free fall, Robert was out of the lineup with a lumbar backbone herniation. At the time of his injury, which finally sidelined him until July 20, he was hitting just .224 with a .656 OPS.
Once he returned, his batting average dipped to as low as .189 — and his OPS as low as .597 — after the Mets’ Aug. 5 recreation.
And while he’d hit .311 with a .994 OPS across 19 video games since then, getting into play Saturday, Robert has still collected just 10 homers and 23 RBIs even after his current uptick in manufacturing.
His path to enjoying time also grew to become sophisticated. The Mets have obtained strong contributions from rookie outfielders Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing, who both issue into their long-term future more than Robert.
Juan Soto returned from a left calf pressure Saturday, too, and while the Mets will ease him back into the lineup as designated hitter initially, he’ll issue into the defensive equation in 2027 and past.
Robert could possibly be owed $20 million next season via a membership option, but the Mets — or any workforce he’s claimed by — would seemingly pay the $2 million buyout instead.
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Their choice to waive Robert might help clear up that outfield logjam.
It would also save the Mets money. But if not, if the 2 days go without him getting claimed, it turns into just another footnote in a disappointing yr, another signal of the Mets admitting an offseason mistake.
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