7:26PM: Robles and the Nationals agreed to a one-year, $1.65MM deal, according to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman.
3:21PM: The Nationals agreed to a 2022 contract with outfielder Victor Robles, The Washington Post’s Jesse Dougherty reports (Twitter link). The deal allows both sides to avoid an arbitration hearing, as an agreement wasn’t reached prior to the deadline for submitting arb figures. Robles was seeking a $2.1MM salary, while the Nats countered with a $1.6MM offer. MLBTR’s Matt Swartz projected Robles for a $1.7MM deal.
This is Robles’ first time through the arbitration process, and he is on pace to hit free agency following the 2024 season. In the near term, however, 2022 looms as a critical year for Robles to re-establish himself as a key part of Washington’s future plans. Since emerging as an everyday member of the Nats’ 2019 World Series club, Robles has hit only .209/.304/.302 in 558 plate appearances in 2020-21.
Once considered one of the elite prospects in all of baseball, Robles now has only a somewhat tenuous hold on a starting job. Robles is still penciled into the center field job, though some defensive metrics have painted a sour picture of his glovework following his all-world defensive numbers in 2019.
With Robles’ deal now settled, the Nationals have worked out contracts with every member of their 2021-22 arbitration class. For more on settled and still-pending arbitration situations, check out MLBTR’s Arbitration Tracker.
I could be proven wrong but I think they made a mistake by not non tendering him.
Probably didn’t because he’d be the starting CF for the Phillies then. You never want a division rival to get more out of a player then you could.
I know the Phillies don’t have much for cf but I think that what they have is better and cheaper than Victor Robles. He was a higher regarded prospect than a guy by the name of Juan Soto.
Cheaper than 1.65 ? What are we even talking about here, save the sizzle for a worthy topic
They can’t really lose much in giving him one more shot
Reasonable sum for a young fast defensive replacement. But they need to figure out who can start in CF, Lane Thomas maybe?
Cosmo has it right. The Nats are punting at least this season. If nothing changes you lost nothing. If he finally figures it out than your patience is rewarded.
That’s a lot of money for AAA player
Thats a lot of letters for a 1st grade commentor
Lol. So u agree with my post
It means he can play in AAA but is out of his depth in the majors.
Way to use that speed Victor to straight up steal money from the Nats. DISAPPOINTMENT
Many top prospects fail, but also some just take a lot longer than expected. Byron Buxton, anyone? I’m not saying that Buxton is a good comp for Robles, but Minnesota has been happy they were patient for a player with so many tools.
Except that in Buxton’s case, they knew he had power and speed but couldn’t stay on the field.
Robles is like Michael Taylor, has a good glove but the bat hasn’t came through still
It’s short money to give Robles one more shot to finally blossom in the majors. He has the tools to succeed; he just needs to put it all together. His defense should come back; it’s all about his production at the plate this season.
I think he will be a fourth outfielder the first week of May. What they could do is move Josh Bell to left and Riley Adams to first.
So that extra 500K made all the difference?
I guess at least he didn’t go to the George Costanza school of negotiating and end up with less.
It’s actually only 50k, any yeah I agree.