Report: Mets Place Veteran Outfielder on Waivers

The New York Mets have placed outfielder Luis Robert Jr. on waivers, according to SNY's Anthony DiComo. The 29-year-old has seen limited action this season due to injury issues , but has shown some pop since returning in July.

*Note: All stats entering play on Saturday, 8/29

The Mets acquired Robert Jr. in a trade with the Chicago White Sox this past January. He spent his first six seasons on the South Side and garnered several accolades in his time there. These include a Gold Glove in 2020, plus an All-Star nod and a Silver Slugger Award in 2023. He also finished as the runner-up for American League Rookie of the Year in the COVID-shortened 2020 season.

Robert Jr. made some noise to start his Mets tenure, including hitting a walk-off home run in April. However, he then went on the injured list with a lumbar disc herniation, causing him to miss nearly three months. Upon his return in late July, it was thought that Robert Jr. could be traded elsewhere at the deadline . This speculation mirrored several previous seasons for him, as he was often touted as a potential deadline chip with the White Sox, although they never pulled the trigger until this past offseason.

The Mets ultimately decided to keep Robert Jr. past August 3, even though his play since returning seemed to increase his trade value. Since his return just after the All-Star break, he has a slash line of .233/.296/.476 with eight homers and 15 RBI across 32 games.

If another team picks up Robert Jr., they'd presumably be adding him at the right time while his power is up. If he clears waivers, perhaps he will find his way back to the Mets roster before the end of the season. However, Robert Jr. getting claimed by another team would be a better outcome for both that team and the Mets. Whatever pop he can provide for the Mets won't get them any closer to the postseason at this point, and freeing up a roster spot will probably allow them one more September call-up than they would use otherwise.

If a contending team claims Robert Jr., they will be getting a versatile player who has a lot to offer both at the plate and in center field. Although his health is a concern, his assets make him one of the more notable players to watch on the waiver wire as the stretch run begins.

Main Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images