The Nationals announced that they have declined their 2024 club option on Victor Robles. The outfielder is not a free agent as he has less than six years of service time and the club could decide to tender him an arbitration contract for next year.
Robles, now 26, avoided arbitration with the Nats last offseason. He agreed to a salary of $2.325MM while granting the club a 2024 option valued at $3.3MM. He spent most of 2023 on the injured list due to back spasms, only getting into 36 games.
After a mostly lost season, it’s understandable that the Nats didn’t want to pick up that option and give him a raise of almost $1MM. But he remains on the roster and could be retained for 2024 via arbitration. The projections from MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz pegged Robles at $2.7MM for next year, making it possible the Nats could keep Robles but at a lesser price point than the option they declined today. The non-tender deadline is November 17, so the Nats have a couple of weeks to decide if they want to keep Robles for another year, work out a trade or non-tender him.
Though he was once considered one of the top prospects in the league, he hasn’t yet established himself at the major league level. His speed and defense give him a solid floor but he has hit just .238/.312/.360 in 1,801 plate appearances at the major league level dating back to 2017.
What a disappointment Robles has been these last four years. The Nats’ resources, and playing time, is sadly better spent elsewhere at this point.
Victor-What the chances of you picking up my option???
Nat’s GM- The same as your HR total this past season.
is James Wood ready? Is he a true center. Wow did the Nats win the Soto trade.
Based on his high strikeout rate at AA, I’d say a big no but, maybe he has a good winter ball and ST. Probably a late call up or 2025 target.
Grades as a CF right now due to athleticism but that body and size, like Judge for example, won’t stay in CF for long.
Judging a physical freak off K rate!?
Hes put up HR totals in pitchers parks A+/AA only a handful of prospects have done this century as 20 year olds.
There have been lots of players that dominated in A+/AA that went nowhere in the majors, Victor Robles himself ranking highly among them. Woods has done nothing until he does something in the big leagues. I am not saying he won’t be something eventually, I am saying he is nothing as of now.
And I would say that if his K rate is high in AA, then it is highly unlikely to be better in the majors and very likely to get even higher.
To your first point.. no kidding.
The point Im beefing with is judging his readiness on K rate. A player of Woods toolshed profile doesnt need a sub 30% K rate to have lots of value in MLB…
Hes 20 and 6’7.. Judge didnt get his K rate sub 28% until he was 29.
I have no doubt he COULD overcome it. My fault is with people (not you specifically) just assuming he will overcome it. Because more often than not, player cannot overcome it.
Yeah but that isn’t all that is wrong. He went backwards a little at the promotion and like we all seem to agree, if his k rate is over 30 at AA then what is it going to be at mlb?
I think my point is made – I said he wasn’t ready and your comments don’t really counter that.
I suggested 2025 and you say he has time to get his k rate down. Ok, so aren’t you also saying he isn’t ready?
Im not assuming he will overcome it.. My point is a 6’7 20 year old elite defensive CF with as much raw power as anyone in pro baseball doesnt need to improve a poor K rate anytime soon to be MLB ready.
He went backwards to merely 20 tanks and a .830 OPS as a 20 year old at one of the toughest parks to hit in MILB.
No my point wasnt he has time to get his K rate down Im saying hes in ready imminently with his production and toolset in spite of his K rate.
Hes going to be an early 2024 all up if not opening day for the PPL draft pick possibility.
Longtimecoming
we all seem to agree, if his k rate is over 30 at AA then what is it going to be at mlb?
==================================
If the question is “is James Wood ready?”, then your answer is indisputably correct.
Without going into the likely unnecessary analysis, he resembles Adell. His AA stats are 230 Ks/600 ABs, which might be closer to 260 Ks in MLB. He’s only 21.046, so I’d only be moderately concerned, but if got promoted, MLB pitchers would own him.
I think folks get too intrigued by some uber-athletes without looking under the hood. DLC looked great for 2-3 weeks before the K/W started to drag him down.
He’s going to grow out of center especially at 6’7 it’s not worth the risk of having him in center
Another Nationals OF prospect bites the dust. Successes-Harper, Soto. Failures-everybody else.
Zimmerman, Turner, Strasburg, Rendon, Giolito, Dunning, etc… all once prospects for the Nats who have had success at MLB level.
I did not know that Ryan Zimmerman, Trea Turner, Stephen Strasburg, Anthony Rendon, Lucas Giolito, and Dane Dunning all played the outfield? The things I learn everday, thank you Tigers3232
My bad overlooked the OF part, thought he was referring to Nats prospects as a whole.
Must have escaped my attention. Apologies. Even though 2 of those guys probably could have played OF for the White Sox and would of been better than Jimenez.
I overlooked where you said OF. In Nats defense though, I’d rather have success producing arms and IFs. OF seems cheaper and easier to plug holes.
I will say tho, how many teams have drafted 2 OFs who went on to produce at the levels of Harper and Soto in the time since they came up for Nats. Only team I cam really think of is ATL with Acuna and Harris, yet Harris has a ways to go before he’s in same tier as Harper or Soto.
Michael A. Taylor came up as a National and has put together a pretty good career so far. But broader point taken; they haven’t produced many OF.
I agree they haven’t produced a lot of OFs who have had success at MLB level. But of the few they have had, how many other teams have produced 2 OFs who have had the success that Soto and Harper since 2010?
I will say it is an impressive tandem of OFs with Harper and Soto. But I ve also gotta say it’s hard to give them too much credit on developing both of them. Harper was going 1st to likely any team who had 1st overall, it just happened to be the Nat’s.
Robles is still serviceable. He can run and play D. That’s worth $2-$3mill per.
Negative defensive value in 2023 and 8 stolen bases with a 68th percentile sprint speed. Not moving the needle as much as you would think there
Did bat .299, overall 750 OPS. He’ll be a Athletic next season
In and out of the lineup with a back injury will hinder your play.
Everyone is making $2mill these days. Hes worth that money, period. Even based in his ’23 season.
A healthy Robles will perform a little better. Were talking a 4th OF here.
Nats had a $3.3M option next season for him. I agree he’s worth that $. I’m assuming Nats don’t have a 40 man roster crunch and if they don’t I’d have been inclined to gave Robles 1 more year considering he’s still I his 20’s.
Definitely wouldn’t mind him in a 4th/5th OF role for the Braves.
Yeah, he hasn’t been good except for 2019 and I say that as a fan. Though in fewer than 40 games and playing injured in 2023, he did much worse than usual.
They’ll probably still run him out there for a mil or two. Handles center in a pinch.
I don’t see Nats getting him back for less than $2M. I’d assume someone out there will offer that or more.
I bet they would but he’s not a free agent.
Nats declined option on him, so he is a free agent.
He’s still arb eligible and not a free agent. It’s in the first paragraph of the story you’re commenting on.
Best nationals OF’er since Jayson Werth
Lot of teams will be in on Robles
And one team will be highly disappointed this time next year.
I mean for 2-3 million dollars “highly disappointed” feels strong. Sounds like a 4th/5th OF.
Highly disappointing to Nats fan because he was a top prospect that didn’t become an above average player? Sure! But not sure anything about his next contract will leave the GM “highly disappointed” (at least due to his infield play).
When did Robles play in the IF??
Obviously hit the I instead of the O. My bad.
Funny what 9 months means as a prospect. Look at Coby Mayo numbers this year compared to James Wood. Way better walk rate, way better K rate, more home runs.
Padres. Him and Grisham can split CF duties.
Pads cant even afford rent, how are they going to pay for him.
How are they gonna afford a .238/.312/.360 hitter with great defense? Just curious, how much do you think Robles is going to get on the open market as a 4th OF?
The juiced ball has given him millions, I’m sure he’s okay with it all. Set him free.
At least he can say he was ranked higher than Juan Soto as a prospect
Lol yeah.
Soto barely played any minor league ball though. He shot up in 3 levels in a year and barely got any minor league abs.
Just saying he can hang his hat on “something” lol he’s been a bust for sure
Nationals turned down a Robles for McCutcheon trade in 2017.Too bad that they had not offered Soto in his place.
Bust