Luis Robert Jr. on waivers by Mets

The New York Mets placed outfielder Luis Robert Jr. on outright waivers, giving other teams a 48-hour window to claim him and assume the remainder of his contract; if unclaimed, he would remain with the Mets. A claim by Sept. 1 is required for any team to make him postseason-eligible. The move appears aimed at trimming the payroll, as the Mets are unlikely to exercise the $20 million club option for 2027, leaving about $5 million guaranteed (roughly $3 million for 2026 plus a $2 million buyout). Robert, 29, has been productive in August after a back injury this season, posting strong numbers over a 19-game stretch. This kind of late-August waiver is a common payroll-management tactic around the league, with other clubs like Cincinnati recently making similar moves. If a team does claim him, they would absorb the remaining salary; otherwise, he remains with the Mets for the rest of the season.