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The Nationals introduced right now that outfielder Lane Thomas has been reinstated from the injured checklist with fellow outfielder Víctor Robles designated for task in a corresponding transfer. The membership’s 40-man roster depend drops to 38.
Robles, now 27, was as soon as the membership’s prime prospect and one of many prime prospects in all the 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 checklist from 2016 to 2019, getting as excessive as #5 general going into 2018. The expectation at the moment was that Robles had the potential of being an all-around contributor and a long-term a part of the outfield in Washington.
Issues gave the impression to be in place in 2019, the yr the Nats gained the World Collection. Robles hit 17 residence runs and slashed .255/.326/.419. Regardless of the lengthy balls, his 5.7% stroll price saved the on-base low and the wRC+ of 92 signifies he was really a bit under common offensively general. However because of above-average protection and stealing 28 bases, FanGraphs credited him as being price 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 return. 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 pale in that point and so they 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 yr resulting from again spasms within the lumbar backbone. He did carry out properly when on the sphere, hitting a strong .299/.385/.364, however hasn’t carried that over in 2024. He spent a couple of month on the injured checklist resulting from 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 achieve free company after the 2024 marketing campaign and the Nationals had been probably hoping for a pleasant run of play this season, a minimum of 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 chopping him off the roster right now.
They’ll now have per week to commerce him or move him via 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 yr, 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 but it surely’s additionally potential 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 excellent well being and the appropriate alternative.
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