The $5 million question surrounding Luis Robert Jr.’s Mets future
The Mets’ Luis Robert Jr. gamble could be coming to an unceremonious end — but only if someone is willing to pay for it.
Robert was placed on waivers Saturday, The Post’s Joel Sherman confirmed, giving him 48 hours to potentially land with a contender and still be eligible for their postseason roster.
The outfielder pinch hit in the eighth inning of the Mets’ 6-2 win over the Astros at Citi Field and can continue to play while on waivers.
game against the Braves at Truist Park. Getty Images
If a team decides to claim him, they’d owe the approximate $3 million remaining on his contract for this season plus a $2 million buyout.
If other MLB teams decide that Robert, 29, isn’t worth the approximately $5 million, a likely outcome based on his struggles, he’d end up back with the Mets.
They acquired Robert from the White Sox in January, hoping the deal would bring a missing piece for a contending season, but Robert missed time due to an injury in addition to underwhelming at the plate. The Mets spiraled toward a lost year. And then they unsuccessfully tried to trade Robert ahead of the deadline.
Through most of the early-season free fall, Robert was out of the lineup with a lumbar spine herniation. At the time of his injury, which ultimately sidelined him until July 20, he was hitting just .224 with a .656 OPS.
Once he returned, his batting average dipped to as low as .189 — and his OPS as low as .597 — after the Mets’ Aug. 5 game.
And while he’d hit .311 with a .994 OPS across 19 games since then, entering play Saturday, Robert has still collected just 10 homers and 23 RBIs even after his recent uptick in production.
His path to playing time also became complicated. The Mets have received strong contributions from rookie outfielders Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing, who both factor into their long-term future more than Robert.
Juan Soto returned from a left calf strain Saturday, too, and while the Mets will ease him back into the lineup as designated hitter initially, he’ll factor into the defensive equation in 2027 and beyond.
Robert could be owed $20 million next season via a club option, but the Mets — or any team he’s claimed by — would likely pay the $2 million buyout instead.
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Their decision to waive Robert could help solve that outfield logjam.
It would also save the Mets money. But if not, if the two days pass without him getting claimed, it becomes just another footnote in a disappointing year, another sign of the Mets admitting an offseason mistake.
