The Nationals have declined their 2024 club option on Victor Robles, but that doesn’t necessarily mean an end to the outfielder’s time with the organization.
In choosing not to pick up their $3.3 million option for Robles, the Nats still retain control of the player, who has accrued only five years and 33 days of big league service time. That makes him eligible for arbitration once again this winter before he can finally become a free agent.
The Nationals and Robles could negotiate and agree to terms on a 2024 salary, one that most likely would be worth more than the $2.325 million he made this year but less than the $3.3 million option they agreed last offseason. If they can’t come to terms by January, they could file competing figures for arbitration and await the ruling of a three-judge panel.
Or, the Nats still could decide to cut ties with Robles and not tender him a contract before the league-wide Nov. 17 deadline, making him a free agent now.
It’s not entirely clear which direction the team will go after another disappointing season from Robles, though this time for different reasons from the past.
After struggling offensively since his strong rookie season in 2019, Robles did show real progress at the plate early in the 2023 campaign. In 36 games, he batted .299 with a .385 on-base percentage, 11 walks and eight stolen bases in nine attempts. His renewed patience – he more than doubled his walk rate from 4.2 percent to 8.7 percent – and more controlled swing with two strikes – he lowered his strikeout rate from 25.6 percent to 14.3 percent – left club options encouraged about his prospects for turning a long-awaited corner.
But Robles suffered a back injury sliding into second base May 6 in Arizona, and that derailed his entire season. He spent six weeks on the injured list, then returned in June but looked uncomfortable in center field and went back on the IL after playing in only five games. He remained there the rest of the season, only showing signs he was ready for baseball activities by October.
“It stinks for him, and for us, because we challenged him to make some changes with his swing,” manager Davey Martinez said in September. “He did it, and he was doing really, really well. I really wish we could’ve seen that for 550 plate appearances, because I think he would’ve surprised a lot of people. But only time will tell now.”
The Nationals used Alex Call and Jacob Young in center field in Robles’ absence, the former struggling and the latter showing impressive speed and defensive ability in September after a meteoric rise through the minor leagues. They know they have several top-rated outfield prospects on the cusp of debuting in Dylan Crews, James Wood and Robert Hassell III, so even if they believe Robles is healthy and worthy of another shot, he may be supplanted by midseason anyway.