Dodgers Should Pounce on Luis Robert Jr. After Stunning Waiver Development

A possible solution for the Los Angeles Dodgers' offensive woes may have hit the waiver wire in the form of Luis Robert Jr.

Robert Jr. broke out years ago with the Chicago White Sox as one of the most promising players in the big leagues in the early 2020s, but in the last few seasons, he has experienced a fall from grace.

He was finally traded away from Chicago over the offseason to the Mets, who needed a veteran outfielder, but his fresh start has not gone as he expected.

Now, to save some money, the Mets put Robert Jr. on waivers to see if another team will pick him up.

Robert Jr. has a $20 million team option for the 2027 season, and $5 million left on his deal in terms of guarantees.

He is owed $3 million in salary and a $2 million buyout fee.

This season, he is hitting .228 with 10 home runs and 23 RBIs, along with two stolen bases and a .715 OPS.

However, things have been better for the Cuban lately. He is hitting .279/.373/.651 over his 15 games, and things look even better over his last seven games — .304/.407/.696.

The turning point came after the trade deadline, when he was available, but teams were reluctant to deal for him because of his low production heading into the trade window.

Seemingly, all he needed was some time to recover from a back injury that he had just returned from in the middle of July.

Why the Dodgers could use Luis Robert Jr.

He hits right-handed, like the Dodgers' current backup outfield bat, Alex Call, but Robert Jr. has the talent to hit a different level.

This year, the longtime center fielder played left field and has also played right field at times. His defense has taken a big step up this year compared to previous years, and his athleticism gives him the ability to be a big-time glove.

Robert Jr. has the ability to help the depth of the Dodgers and give their two struggling outfielders some competition as well.

He comes at a somewhat high cost given his season-long production, but if he can keep hitting the ball as he has recently, he would immediately help the offense.

As everyone knows, the Dodgers spare no expense if it can help the team win games, and it is hard to argue Robert Jr. wouldn't be an upgrade.