Orioles decline Luis Robert Jr.’s club option

Everyone expects the MLB to undergo a lengthy lockout this offseason, but perhaps even more predictable than that unfortunate development is the move that the Baltimore Orioles made on Saturday night. The O’s are declining their $20 million club option on Luis Robert Jr., which officially makes the injury-ravaged center fielder a free agent. Following a rough 2026 campaign that saw the 2023 Silver Slugger and All-Star bat .221 with a .300 on-base percentage, .407 slugging percentage and .707 OPS, it would have been highly impractical for a bottom-half payroll to allocate that kind of salary for next season.