Luis Robert Jr. Landing Spot Revealed in New MLB Rumors After Mets Waived Outfielder

The Baltimore Orioles are reportedly claiming outfielder Luis Robert Jr., per Chelsea Janes of SNY, after the New York Mets placed him on outright waivers Sunday.

On Monday, the Mets called up outfield prospect Nick Morabito, per Will Sammon of The Athletic. He's posted 13 homers, 47 RBI, 42 stolen bases and a .743 OPS in Triple-A this season.

New York traded infielder Luisangel Acuna and right-hander Truman Pauley for Robert in January, but it was among the moves that didn't pan out for the cellar-dwelling Mets (61-76). The veteran center fielder is hitting just .223 with 10 homers, 23 RBI, 24 runs and a .702 OPS this season, numbers that have been seriously bolstered by a hot month of August (.841 OPS, six homers, 11 RBI).

That hot streak came after he received little interest ahead of the trade deadline, and was perhaps enough reason for the Orioles to claim him on waivers.

Baltimore, meanwhile, has clawed its way back into playoff contention after winning seven of its past nine. That has left the Orioles just one game back of the Cleveland Guardians for the final AL Wild Card berth. Should they surpass the Guardians, the AL East would have four teams in playoff position.

Adding a right-handed hitter in the outfield made sense for an Orioles team rolling with a starting group of Colton Cowser, Dylan Beavers (both lefties) and Leody Taveras (a switch-hitter who has posted a .518 OPS against left-handed pitchers).

Cowser has been even worse against lefties (.482 OPS), while Beavers has been somewhat more respectable in that regard but hardly effective (.600 OPS). Suffice to say, the Orioles had a need for a right-handed bat in the outfield.

If Robert stays hot, he'll offer a nice upgrade for the Orioles. At the very least, he'll give them an option to utilize against left-handed pitching if they go the platoon route.