The Mets have put Luis Robert Jr. on waivers, a move that could send the outfielder elsewhere for the stretch run if another club is willing to absorb the rest of his contract.
Any team that wants him has 48 hours to make a claim. If no one does, Robert Jr. stays in Queens and finishes the season with the Mets.
There’s real money attached here, too. Robert Jr. is owed about $3 million for the rest of this season, and the deal also carries a $2 million buyout on a $20 million team option for 2027. Because of MLB’s “luxury tax,” the Mets could also be on the hook for an additional 110% on that amount, which makes a claim even more appealing from their side.
Robert missed time earlier this year, spending the injured list from April 30 through July 20 because of a lumbar disc herniation. The Mets were unable to line up a trade before the Aug. 3 deadline, but waivers at least give them a chance to pick up some salary relief.
And the bat has been doing its part lately. Since the deadline passed, Robert had a .994 OPS with six home runs in 19 games entering Saturday’s 6-2 win over the Astros at Citi Field. He came off the bench as a pinch hitter in the eighth, popped up, then stayed in the game and played left field in the ninth.
In the other roster move tied to the day’s shuffle, Eric Wagaman was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse to make room for Juan Soto coming off the IL.
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