The Padres may be getting another crack at a player they already tried to bring to San Diego, and this time the conversation should come with tougher questions.
Baltimore is expected to decline Luis Robert Jr.’s $20 million club option for 2027, a move that would push him toward free agency with a $2 million buyout. If that happens, Robert becomes a familiar name back in play as the Padres work through their offseason needs.
This is not some cold, distant scouting file. San Diego already put in a waiver claim for Robert before Baltimore got him, but the Orioles had priority because of their worse record.
A.J. Preller’s interest was real then, not just theoretical, and it could be real again now.
Robert’s appeal is easy to see. When the Padres made that claim, he was coming off an August in which he posted an .841 OPS and hit six home runs. Free agency would give him control over where he lands, and it would give San Diego another chance to make its case.
The fit, at least on paper, is obvious enough. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill already anchor the outfield, and Robert would add another dangerous right-handed bat without the Padres having to work through a trade.
But the upside comes with a major catch: availability. Robert’s 2026 injured list history included a lumbar spine disc herniation with the Mets and left hamstring discomfort after joining Baltimore. That’s the part the Padres can’t ignore.
San Diego can admire the talent and still need a straight answer on how often it would actually be on the field over six months. Robert has had health issues throughout his career, and that has to shape both the plan and the price.
Preller should want to know what Robert can handle physically, how the Padres would use him in left field, and who fills in when he needs time off. Those are the questions that should also determine the kind of contract he gets.
The earlier claim gives the Padres a reason to look again. It does not mean they have to finish the job.
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