Orioles claim former All-Star OF Luis Robert Jr. from Mets for playoff push

Matt Weyrich, The Baltimore Sun on Aug 31, 2026

Published in Baseball

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DENVER — The Baltimore Orioles sold at the deadline, but they signaled a reversal in their aspirations Monday by making a last-minute attempt to bolster their roster with an external addition.

Baltimore claimed outfielder Luis Robert Jr. off waivers from the New York Mets, the team announced Monday afternoon. The former All-Star is owed approximately $3 million for the rest of the season, and his contract carries a $20 million team option for 2027 with a $2 million buyout. The team designated infielder Luis Vázquez for assignment to create room on the 40-man roster, though Robert wasn’t immediately added to the active roster.

Robert, 29, hit just .223 with 10 home runs and a .702 OPS in 58 games for the Mets after they acquired him in an offseason trade with the Chicago White Sox. He did, however, catch fire in August with a .267 average and .841 OPS before the last-place Mets placed him on outright waivers Saturday.

The move comes just in time for Robert to be postseason eligible for Baltimore. Players must be on a team’s 40-man roster by Sept. 1 for teams to roster them in the playoffs, something the Orioles are making a push for despite trading four players at the August deadline, including All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman.

Heading into their series opener against the Colorado Rockies on Monday, the Orioles (68-69) have gone 14-11 since the deadline to pull within one game of the Cleveland Guardians for the final wild-card spot in the American League. They’ve also gotten back catcher Samuel Basallo, starter Chris Bassitt and utility player Blaze Alexander from the injured list over that span, with closer Félix Bautista nearing a return as well.

FanGraphs gave the Orioles a 21.3% chance of making the playoffs entering play Monday. Robert fills a significant need as a right-handed outfielder, a presence they have sorely lacked after trading Taylor Ward to the Seattle Mariners and placing Tyler O’Neill on the IL with a shoulder strain. He owns a lifetime .856 OPS against left-handed pitching, though his production at the plate has slipped the past three years.

The Orioles also announced that they recalled left-hander Cade Povich from Triple-A Norfolk to start Monday against the Rockies, giving them a six-man rotation ahead of rosters expanding Tuesday. They optioned right-handed reliever Anthony Nunez to Norfolk in a corresponding move.

SNY was the first to report that the Orioles claimed Robert.

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