The Mariners are finalizing a deal to sign outfielder Victor Robles, a onetime top prospect for the Washington Nationals, according to multiple Major League Baseball sources.
The Nationals were granted an unconditional release waiver on Robles, 27, over the weekend.
Robles will join the Mariners on Tuesday in Oakland at the start of a six-game road trip.
The Mariners optioned rookie outfielder Jonatan Clase, 22, on Monday morning so he can continue his development with regular playing time in Triple-A Tacoma.
As a teenager in the Nationals system, many considered Robles a better prospect than teammate Juan Soto.
As a rookie in 2019, Robles was the center fielder on the Nationals’ World Series championship team, hitting .255 with 17 homers, 28 steals and a .745 OPS in 155 games. He was also considered an elite defensive outfielder, leading all center fielders that season in defensive runs saved.
Since then, though, he has hit just .222 with just a .308 slugging percentage. He missed most of the 2023 season because of a back injury, and he hit .120 with a .401 OPS in 33 plate appearances before the Nationals designated him for assignment last week.
Robles is due $2.65 million this season. But because he was released, the Mariners will be responsible for just the prorated portion of the league minimum salary ($740,000).
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