Just a couple of months after acquiring him, the Seattle Mariners announced that they signed outfielder Victor Robles to a two-year contract extension on Monday. The deal will start next season and guarantee Robles $9.75 million.
Victor’s staying in Seattle!
We have signed outfielder Victor Robles to a two-year extension through 2026, with a team option that runs through the 2027 season. #TridentsUp
🔗 https://t.co/ri8rdkgf18 pic.twitter.com/bgEeVS1LLK
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) August 12, 2024
The extension includes a $1.25 million signing bonus, $1 million in yearly bonuses, and a $9 million club option for 2027. This extension certainly, represents a shocking turnaround for a player whose career seemed dead just a few months back.
Seattle Mariners Sign Víctor Robles To A Two-Year Contract Extension
Robles began the season on the injured list with the Washington Nationals. Unfortunately, Washington decided to move on after he hit just .120/.281/.120 in 14 games. With a new wave of prospects coming, Washington clearly did not want to wait for Robles any longer. In eight years with the Nationals, the former consensus top prospect hit just .236/.311/.356.
Although the chances of Robles turning into a quality hitter seemed slim, the 27-year-old has immediately flourished in Seattle. In 42 games, Robles is hitting .303/.372/.450 (139 wRC+) with 12 steals and excellent strikeout and walk rates. He’s also managed to pair his hot hitting with solid outfield defense. Plus, it seems Robles fits incredibly well in the locker room and within the club’s culture.
Victor Robles mic’d up, talking about monkeys, makes a play, yells at his infielders, then back to the monkeys. We’re back, baby. #Mariners pic.twitter.com/8ifPknV2Tm
— Matt Loveless (@MattLoveless) August 11, 2024
Not much has gone great for Seattle’s position players, but Robles clearly represents a bright spot. His 1.3 fWAR with the Mariners indicates how productive and valuable he’s been in such a short time.
With a scarcity of quality hitters playing center field, the Mariners signed Robles to a contract extension two months before he was scheduled to hit free agency. It’s doubtful that Robles would have signed a long-term deal this winter, even with a great tenure in Seattle.
I don’t wanna sound dramatic but victor robles is the greatest mariners midsession pick up of all time pic.twitter.com/dE6LJKWYkS
— zachleft (@zachleft) August 4, 2024
However, center fielders with similar profiles and careers signed one-year deals for around $10 million this past winter. Robles could have been on track to sign a similar deal this winter. So, this extension could prove to be a great value for the Mariners, especially if Robles continues to develop.
Considering Seattle is only paying Robles a prorated portion of the league minimum, this could be the greatest value acquisition in modern baseball.
Main Photo Credits: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
