Robles' time in organization ends with unconditional release waivers

CLEVELAND – Victor Robles won’t be remaining in the Nationals organization after the club made another procedural move today that ensures the longtime outfielder will have to try to revitalize his career with another franchise.

The Nats requested unconditional release waivers on Robles today, a transaction that comes five days after they designated him for assignment. The DFA move immediately removed the 27-year-old from the 40-man roster but left him in limbo for the week while the club explored its various options.

The Nationals could have traded Robles to another team, but no satisfactory offers were made. He’s now available to 29 other clubs via waivers, but any claiming team would be responsible for his $2.65 million salary.

If Robles went unclaimed, the Nats could have attempted to outright him to Triple-A Rochester, though as a veteran with five years of big league service time, he could have refused the assignment and become a free agent. By requesting unconditional release waivers, they are already stating their intention not to keep him in the organization.

So, once Robles officially passes through waivers unclaimed, he’ll be released. If another team decides to sign him at that point, it would only have to pay him a prorated portion of the league minimum salary ($740,000). The Nationals would be responsible for the rest of his guaranteed deal, which expires at the end of the season.

Thus ends an 11-year relationship between the two parties, one that dates all the way back to the summer of 2013 when the Nats signed a then-teenaged Robles out of the Dominican Republic for a modest $225,000. Over the next several years, he blossomed into one of the top prospects in baseball, regarded by scouts both inside and outside the organization as a better all-around prospect than Juan Soto.

General manager Mike Rizzo frequently fielded trade requests for Robles (and Soto) from 2016-18, including one from the Marlins, who were looking to deal catcher J.T. Realmuto to a contender. Rizzo’s response was consistent: Neither young outfielder was available.

Robles wound up making his MLB debut in September 2017 and made the team’s postseason roster as a reserve outfielder. He officially took over the starting center field job in 2019 and proceeded to bat .255 with 33 doubles, 17 homers, 65 RBIs and 28 stolen bases while also recording 12 outfield assists. He caught the final out of the Wild Card Game and the National League Championship Series and the following month finished sixth in NL Rookie of the Year voting.

But he was never the same player after that. Over the last five seasons, Robles batted just .222 with a paltry .308 slugging percentage, prone to occasional mistakes both in the field and on the bases. He was demoted to Triple-A for the final month of the 2021 season, missed much of the 2023 season with a back injury and ultimately saw his place on the organization's depth chart plummet as other young players emerged.

Still only 27, Robles could rediscover his form elsewhere and potentially sustain his career. But that won’t happen with the Nationals any longer.

Robles’ departure means the longest-tenured player in the organization now is Triple-A third baseman Carter Kieboom, drafted in June 2016. Luis García Jr., Joan Adon and Israel Pineda also remain in the organization after signing as international free agents in July 2016.