Orioles make impact waiver claim as Mets part with red-hot bat after trade

When the New York Mets placed Luis Robert Jr. on outright waivers over the weekend, almost no one expected a team to be silly enough to place a claim on the former All-Star. Yet, silly is often the best way to describe Mike Elias' actions as the president of baseball operations for the Baltimore Orioles, and adding Robert represents his latest "hold my beer" moment.

The Orioles have claimed Robert off waivers from the Mets, and will be on the hook for the $4.89 million he's owed for the rest of the season.

At the very least, it's a sign that the Orioles are making an earnest effort toward reaching the playoffs. Entering play on Monday, they trail the Cleveland Guardians for the final wild card spot by one game. As improbable as it seems, the the hope from the Orioles appears to be that Robert's latest hot streak could ignite their final push toward October.

Mike Elias pinning the Orioles' playoff hopes on Luis Robert Jr. was certainly a choice.

As has been the case throughout his entire career, injuries derailed Robert's time with the Mets. He's only played 58 games this season, but the hope lies with how he performed over the past month.

Since the calendar flipped to August, Robert is slashing .267/.321/.520 with a wRC+ of 128, and six home runs. Further proof that when Robert is healthy, there's a version of him that can be an impact bat. The problem is that version has been few-and-far between since he was named an All-Star in 2023.

If we're being honest, Robert, even if he's right, is an expensive band-aid for the Orioles. Sure, he could address the need they have in the outfield, and if Baltimore capitalizes on his hot streak, his bat could stabilize the starting lineup but what's the payoff for the Orioles?

Chances are there's very little Robert will do that's going to change the overall outlook of the Orioles beyond this season. In other words, Robert's arrival is another version of the awful trend that is Elias' deflection. If he lucks out and the Orioles make the playoffs, Elias can point to that "success" as a reason why he needs to remain in place, suggesting that it's the first of many appearances to come in the years ahead. The actual tale of the Orioles' season, however, tells a very different story.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow