The Nationals introduced right this moment that outfielder Lane Thomas has been reinstated from the injured listing with fellow outfielder Víctor Robles designated for task in a corresponding transfer. The membership’s 40-man roster rely drops to 38.
Robles, now 27, was as soon as the membership’s prime prospect and one of many prime prospects in your complete league. Per the rankings from Baseball America, he was the Nationals’ #1 prospect in three straight years from 2017 to 2019. He was additionally on BA’s prime 100 league-wide listing from 2016 to 2019, getting as excessive as #5 total going into 2018. The expectation at the moment was that Robles had the aptitude of being an all-around contributor and a long-term a part of the outfield in Washington.
Issues appeared to be in a very good place in 2019, the 12 months the Nats gained the World Collection. Robles hit 17 house runs and slashed .255/.326/.419. Regardless of the lengthy balls, his 5.7% stroll fee saved the on-base low and the wRC+ of 92 signifies he was really a bit under common offensively total. However due to above-average protection and stealing 28 bases, FanGraphs credited him as being value 3.7 wins above alternative in his age-22 season.
Given his youth, the Nats undoubtedly anticipated him to proceed evolving as a hitter as he aged. Sadly, issues moved in the wrong way within the years to come back. From 2020 to 2022, Robles acquired into 291 video games with the Nats however hit simply .216/.291/.306 in that point for a wRC+ of 66. The membership’s fortunes additionally light in that point they usually entered a rebuilding part.
That theoretically left Robles with loads of taking part in time to get again on observe, however his well being hasn’t actually allowed him to take action. He solely acquired into 36 video games final 12 months because of again spasms within the lumbar backbone. He did carry out nicely when on the sector, hitting a stable .299/.385/.364, however hasn’t carried that over in 2024. He spent a couple of month on the injured listing because of left hamstring pressure and has produced a brutal line of .120/.281/.120 within the 14 video games he has performed.
Robles was slated to succeed in free company after the 2024 marketing campaign and the Nationals have been possible hoping for a pleasant run of play this season, at the very least permitting them to flip Robles for one thing on the deadline earlier than he slipped away from them for nothing. Sadly, his efficiency hasn’t impressed a lot confidence and they’re slicing him off the roster right this moment.
They are going to now have per week to commerce him or move him by means of waivers, although any curiosity is more likely to be pretty modest after years of poor efficiency and damage absences. He’s making a wage of $2.65MM this 12 months, with nonetheless about two thirds of that left to be paid out. Maybe the Nats will attempt to eat a few of that cash to facilitate a deal nevertheless it’s additionally doable that Robles simply finally ends up launched. He has sufficient service time that he can reject an outright task in favor of free company whereas retaining all that cash intact.
It’s undeniably been a disappointing few years and hardly what the membership had in thoughts, given the prospect pedigree and the promising begin to his profession. However for Robles personally, it’s not too late for him to discover a second act someplace. He simply turned 27 final week and will maybe get again on observe with a run of fine well being and the fitting alternative.
