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Examining whether the Blue Jays should claim Luis Robert Jr. off waivers
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Photo credit: © Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Aug 31, 2026, 07:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 30, 2026, 20:50 EDT
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Since the trade deadline, things have been going a lot better for the Toronto Blue Jays.
They’ve crawled themselves back to a spot where they can contend for a wild card spot, sitting a game and a half behind the Cleveland Guardians. The two teams will play a crucial three-game series beginning on Tuesday.
But as a whole, things haven’t gone great for the Blue Jays in 2026, especially when compared to how the 2025 season went and the expectations placed on the team. Sure, they’ve been playing better, but they’ve been sorely missing power all season long.
One potential fix for the power outage is Luis Robert Jr., who was placed on outright waivers by the New York Mets on Saturday.
Back in 2023, the outfielder slashed .264/.315/.542 with 38 home runs in 595 plate appearances, with a 28.9 K%. It was by far Robert Jr.’s best season of his career, as he hit just 28 home runs in 856 plate appearances with the Chicago White Sox in 2024 and 2025.
Traded to the Mets during the off-season, the right-handed batting outfielder had a tough start to his tenure in the Big Apple, slashing just .224/.327/.329 with two home runs from March 26th until April 26th. A few days later, Robert Jr. was placed on the injured list and missed nearly three months, which is nothing new for Robert Jr. over the past three season.
Since returning on July 20th, Robert Jr. has been a slightly above-average hitter. In 116 plate appearances, the outfielder is slashing .231/.293/.471 with eight home runs for a 108 wRC+, along with a 29.3 K%. 
Robert Jr. started slow upon returning from injury, but just like Alejandro Kirk, he’s been on fire recently. Over his 80 plate appearances in August, Robert Jr. is slashing .282/.338/.549 with six of his 10 home runs on the season, good for a 140 wRC+. His strikeout rate is also down to 25%.
Claiming Robert Jr. would give the Blue Jays a much-needed right-handed batting outfielder. He’s also solid in the outfield, as he has a 20 Defensive Runs Saved, 32 Outs Above Average, and 32 Fielding Run Value in 5,177.1 career innings in the outfield.
However, there are some downsides to claiming Robert Jr. For starters, where would he even play? Brett Bateman has established himself as the everyday centre fielder for the team, getting an opportunity and running all the way to the bank with it. Sure, either corner outfield spot is an option, but Bateman is set up to be the centre fielder for the future. Why mess with what’s working?
There’s a work around for playing time, but there’s no work around for Robert Jr.’s contract. If the Blue Jays claim Robert Jr., they’ll be on the hook for the rest of his salary this season, which amounts to about $3,674,000 towards the already hefty luxury tax. Robert Jr. also carries a club option worth $20 million, but a buyout of $2 million for the 2027 season.
The outfielder is a fit for the Blue Jays as they desperately need a right-handed batting outfielder who isn’t Myles Straw. A player must be in the organization by September 1st to be eligible for the postseason, but that isn’t an issue for a team claiming him, as he’s set to clear on August 31st. September 1st also marks the day rosters expand to 28, freeing up a spot for Robert Jr. if the Blue Jays wish to claim him.
Even though he is a fit, the contract might scare the Blue Jays away given Robert Jr.’s performance the past three seasons. There’s also a strong possibility he’ll be available in free agency if the Blue Jays wish to pursue him there.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, DFOEdmonton, and DFOCalgary. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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