Victor Robles was once regarded as a more promising prospect than Juan Soto during their time in the Washington Nationals’ farm system.
Both were highly talented outfielders anticipated to play significant roles in the franchise’s future. In fact, before the 2018 season, Robles was ranked as the second-best prospect in baseball by Baseball America, while Baseball Prospectus had Soto at No. 22 that same year.
Robles and Soto were key players when the Nationals won their first and only World Series title in 2019. However, their careers have since taken different trajectories.
Soto, now playing for the New York Yankees, has established himself as one of the top players in the majors. A four-time All-Star, Soto is hitting .300/.432/.601 with 34 home runs in 121 games during his first season in New York after being acquired from the San Diego Padres in a high-profile trade. As Soto approaches free agency at the end of the season, he is expected to secure a contract even more substantial than the 15-year, $440-million offer he declined from the Nationals in 2022 before being traded to the Padres.
Meanwhile, Robles’ career has declined significantly over the past few years, reaching a low point earlier this season. After posting a .120/.281/.120 slash line in just 14 games, the Nationals released him on June 1, leading many to wonder if the 27-year-old’s career was over.
However, the Seattle Mariners decided to take a chance on Robles, signing him just three days after his release. Since then, Robles has been crafting one of baseball’s most unexpected comeback stories in the Pacific Northwest.
Robles has become a key contributor to the Mariners’ offense, hitting .281/.345/.415 with three home runs and 14 stolen bases in 48 games.
The Mariners have been so impressed with Robles that they recently signed him to a two-year, $9.75 million contract extension, with the potential to earn an additional $2 million in performance bonuses. The deal also includes a team option for $9 million in 2027.
While the money is only a fraction of what Soto will likely command, the timing of Robles’ extension is notable, as multi-year contracts are rarely signed in August, a period typically free of such distractions. This deal was unexpected, especially so soon after Robles’ release.
“It felt great,” Robles said of the contract offer. “I’m proud of all the hard work I’ve put in and proud that I never gave up. This deal shows that the organization appreciates me. They just told me to bring energy when they signed me, and this contract motivates me to do that even more.”
Mariners manager Scott Servais also highlighted Robles’ energy as a key factor in his impact on the team.
“He fits into our team because he’s incredibly aggressive,” Servais said. “He plays with intensity. Vic brings a lot of energy and is aggressive on the bases, which puts pressure on opponents and forces mistakes.”
The Nationals have finished last in the National League East in all four seasons since their World Series victory. This season, they are in fourth place, 17½ games behind the division-leading Philadelphia Phillies. Meanwhile, the Mariners, who have made the postseason only once since 2002, are currently in contention, sitting in second place in the AL West, four games behind the Houston Astros.
Seattle recently snapped a five-game losing streak with a 10-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, where Robles contributed with a two-run double.
“The mentality is always to win. The goal is always to win a championship,” Robles said. “We haven’t been playing our best lately, but the most important thing is to keep competing, and we’ll turn things around.”
Robles is certainly playing his part.
“They’ve allowed me to be myself,” Robles said of his time with the Mariners. “One of the things they told me here was just to be myself and not try to be anyone else. I think that’s been the key to my success.”
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