Orioles Claim Robert Jr. From Mets for Wild-Card Push — SkimNews
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- Baltimore Orioles claimed outfielder Luis Robert Jr. from the Mets on Monday, gaining postseason eligibility since players must be in an organization by end of day; they entered the day one game behind Cleveland for the third AL wild-card at 68-69.
- Luis Robert Jr. batted .268 with six home runs and an .860 OPS in 23 games after returning from a herniated disk that sidelined him nearly three months, following the Mets' inability to trade him at the Aug. 3 deadline.
- Mets save roughly $8 million by shedding Robert: New York avoids the 110% luxury tax on the $3 million remaining on his $20 million salary and a $2 million buyout on his 2026 club option.
- A.J. Ewing, a 22-year-old center fielder described as a future building block, reclaims everyday playing time in New York after Robert's departure from the Mets' outfield.
- Mark Vientos was activated by the Mets from the injured list after fracturing a hand July 9 and hitting three home runs at Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday.
- Nick Morabito, a 23-year-old outfield prospect, is being called up by the Mets; he batted .254 with 13 home runs, 42 steals, and a .743 OPS in 114 games at Triple-A Syracuse this season.
Why it matters: With Baltimore at 68-69 and one game out of the third AL wild-card, the timing is the entire story: Robert must be in the organization by end of Monday to be postseason-eligible, so Baltimore prioritized a waiver claim over a more thorough search. The Mets pocket roughly $8 million in salary and luxury-tax savings while unblocking Ewing and Morabito to evaluate their young core.
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