Baltimore Orioles Are Expected To Decline Outfielder's Club Option

With the World Series recently coming to a close, the baseball offseason is officially off and running, which means it is time for teams to make their decision on their club options.

The Baltimore Orioles have a decision to make regarding outfielder Luis Robert Jr.’s club option, and may already be trending towards a particular direction. According to Francys Romero of Beisbol FR, the Orioles are expected to decline Robert Jr.’s $20 million option for the 2027 season. 

In doing so, Baltimore would pay a $2 million buyout and become a free agent for the first time in his career at 29 years old. In that case, he would present himself as an interesting free agent target for potential suitors.

Robert Jr. joined the Orioles when he was claimed off waivers by them, just days after the New York Mets put him on waivers. He played just three games with the Orioles in early September before he was placed on the injured list with left hamstring discomfort, which ended up sidelining him for the remainder of the season.

Prior to joining the Orioles, Robert Jr. played in 58 games with the Mets, posting a .223 batting average to go with 10 home runs and a .702 OPS. This past year marked what may have been the most difficult season for the outfielder.

Over the past offseason, Robert Jr. was traded to the Mets from the Chicago White Sox, where he spent the first six seasons of his career. In his time there, he established himself as one of the league’s most talented center fielders, and was seen as a dominant defensive outfielder with a bat that had high upside.

Ever since Robert Jr. made his major league debut in 2020, he has continuously put up productive seasons, but he has always dealt with injury trouble. Robert Jr. did not play at least 100 games from 2021-2022, and in his first time doing so, which came in 2023, he put up the best season of his career.

In 2023, Robert Jr. hit a career-high 38 home runs, posted a .857 OPS and accumulated a stellar 5.0 fWAR. That same season, he also logged a career-best 145 games played, which remains the most games he has played in a season.

However, from 2024-2025, Robert Jr. posted back-to-back seasons with an OPS under .700, as his offensive production has seen a gradual decline. What makes his profile intriguing is that he has the tools of a five-tool player, but has struggled to put everything together at the same time.

With his recent performance, his $20 million club option seems drastically high for the production he has had on the field recently, especially given that he has hardly spent time in Baltimore. Though that is the case, the Orioles could be interested in his free agent market regardless, but at a much lower price tag.