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By Jon Paul Hoornstra
Contributing Sports Writer
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As the Seattle Mariners attempt to climb back in the standings and hunt down their first-ever World Series title, finding capable hitters has been a supreme challenge.
Their .674 on-base plus slugging percentage is 28th out of the 30 MLB teams through Sunday, better only than the rebuilding Chicago White Sox and Miami Marlins. Bright spots have been few and far between.
Perhaps the brightest: outfielder Victor Robles who, at 27, is making a strong case for the American League Comeback Player of the Year award.
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As recently as June 3, he wasn't even an American Leaguer. He was a free agent, looking to latch on with a new team after being designated for assignment by the Washington Nationals.
The Seattle Mariners scooped Robles up the next day and plugged him into their outfield immediately. All he's done since is hit .303 with a .372 on-base percentage and .450 slugging percentage.
Robles' 140 OPS+ — along with the arrival of trade deadline acquisition Randy Arozarena (.306/.452/.469 slash line in 14 games) — has stabilized an outfield that has struggled to produce at the plate.
The Mariners are apparently big believers that Robles can sustain his production despite a career slash line of .238/.312/.360 entering this season. They've signed him to a two-year contract extension worth $9.75 million, according to multiple reports Monday.
It's a surprising move for a player and team that have only been together for 42 games — even more of a surprise considering Robles was effectively out of a job two months ago.
According to Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times, the Mariners and Robles agreed to the extension prior to Sunday's game:
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The Mariners are 63-56, first place in the American League West. They began the season with high expectations to claim the division title, particularly as the perennial favorite Houston Astros struggled out of the gate.
Houston was 12-24 and 8.5 games out of first place on May 8. Through Sunday, however, the teams were tied atop the division — and only after the Mariners won four in a row.
Robles has been the unlikely spreader of the good vibes. A top-10 prospect in baseball prior to the 2017, 2018, and 2019 seasons, he never capitalized on his potential with the Washington Nationals. Initially touted as a star attraction in the same breath as slugger Juan Soto, the Nationals won the 2019 World Series with Soto in a starring role and Robles as a complimentary player, before ultimately he played his way out of the team's starting outfield.
By June, the Nationals were embarking on a full-on rebuild. The decision to designate him for assignment felt almost overdue.
Now, however, the Mariners' fortunes appear to be on the upswing — not unlike those of Robles himself. For now, the contract extension looks like a high-reward, low-risk move for a team and player on the rise.
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