Orioles Decline 2027 Option for Outfielder Luis Robert Jr.

Baltimore Orioles Decline Luis Robert Jr.’s $20 Million Club Option

The Luis Robert Jr. era in Baltimore lasted all of three games. On Saturday, the Baltimore Orioles officially declined the oft-injured outfielder’s $20 million team option for 2027, absorbing a $2 million buyout instead. As chicagotribune.com reported, the move closes out a costly $5 million gamble that yielded a microscopic sample size on the field.

ESPN noted that the Orioles claimed Robert off waivers from the New York Mets on August 31 during a late-season playoff push, taking on roughly $4.9 million in remaining salary obligations and buyout costs. At the time, the club had rallied back to the .500 mark after selling at the trade deadline, and the front office viewed the outfielder as a functional piece for a lefty-heavy lineup. Robert debuted with a bang, hitting a two-run double and following up with a home run in his first game at Camden Yards. Yet his very next contest brought a season-ending hamstring strain that shelved him permanently.

A Familiar Pattern of Injuries and Roster Fallout

Health has defined Robert’s professional trajectory. Now 29 years old, the two-time All-Star spent his first six seasons with the Chicago White Sox before a January 2026 trade sent him to the Mets. Over seven major league seasons, he has played in more than 110 games just once. He carries a .256 career batting average with 113 home runs and a .762 OPS, though he struggled to replicate the standout form that earned him an All-Star nod in 2023, batting .221 with 11 home runs and 26 RBIs over 61 total games this year.

With Robert now off the books barring an unexpected return in free agency, the Orioles are left with eight outfielders on their 40-man roster. That group could soon include 2023 first-round pick Enrique Bradfield Jr. if the team decides to shield him from the Rule 5 draft. Baltimore already initiated its offseason roster management by re-signing outfielder Rece Hinds to a one-year major league contract.

Waiver Clearances and Minor League Reassignments

The decision on Robert arrived alongside a broader wave of roster adjustments. The club announced that four players cleared waivers after being designated for assignment:

Orioles Decline 2027 Option for Outfielder Luis Robert Jr. — Photo: espn.com

Right-hander Albert Suárez
Infielder José Barrero
Right-hander Codi Heuer
Right-hander Colin Selby

Heuer and Selby accepted outright assignments to Triple-A Norfolk, while Suárez and Barrero elected free agency. Suárez served as the most impactful contributor among the group, turning in a 3.86 ERA across 63 innings as a long reliever. His deployment became a masterclass in roster maneuvering, as the Orioles released and re-signed him four times throughout the summer despite having no minor league options left. Barrero spent the bulk of his campaign in Norfolk, batting .202 with 23 home runs and a .702 OPS while making just two major league appearances for Baltimore. Heuer arrived at the trade deadline in a cash deal with the Milwaukee Brewers but never pitched for the Orioles, and Selby spent the entire year recovering from July shoulder surgery, leaving him slated to begin next season on the injured list. These transactions leave Baltimore with 33 players on its 40-man roster as the offseason opens.