Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Monday that Robles (back) hasn't yet been cleared to participate in games during the Dominican Winter League, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Robles didn't play after June 20 this past season while dealing with lumbar spine spasms, an injury that proved to be more significant than the Nationals initially anticipated. The outfielder was expected to make up for the three-plus months of lost action by playing regularly in his native Dominican Republic this offseason, but he apparently has yet to fully move past the back issue. Though he's still just 26 years old, Robles' prospect star has long since faded, and he no longer appears to be viewed as a key part of the Nationals' long-term plans after he had his $3.3 million club option for 2024 declined earlier this winter. Robles is still on the books for the upcoming season after renegotiating a new one-year deal with Washington at a lower salary, but he'll probably need to overcome the back injury and turn in solid production in what's left of winter ball to enter spring training as the clear frontrunner for the starting job in center field.
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Nationals' Victor Robles: Staying in Washington
Rotowire
Robles agreed to a one-year contract with the Nationals on Tuesday, avoiding arbitration, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
The Nationals declined a $3.3 million club option to keep Robles for 2024, but the two sides negotiated a smaller contract to keep him on the active roster. Given Washington's lack of quality internal options, Robles may play a decent amount early on in his age-26/27 season despite being worth 0.6 fWAR in 275 games over the past three seasons. Robles should hit at the bottom of the order when he plays. He has stolen at least eight bases in each of the last three campaigns and stole eight in 36 games last year while battling back spasms.
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Nationals' Victor Robles: Club option declined
Rotowire
The Nationals declined Robles' (back) $3.3 million club option for 2024 on Thursday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Robles won't immediately become a free agent, though, because he carries one more year of arbitration eligibility. A former top-10 prospect, the 26-year-old was limited to 36 major-league games in 2023 because of a lingering back injury and owns a disappointing .238/.312/.360 career slash line in 1,801 plate appearances at baseball's highest level.
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Nationals' Victor Robles: Might not return this year
Rotowire
Manager Dave Martinez said Friday that it is "going to be hard" for Robles (back) to return this season, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Robles has been on the injured list since late June due to a lingering back injury and is rapidly running out of time to rejoin the Nationals. The 26-year-old outfielder has appeared in only 36 major-league games this season.
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Nationals' Victor Robles: Moved to 60-day IL
Rotowire
Robles (back) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Robles is now ineligible for activation until Aug. 20 after originally being placed on the 10-day IL on June 21 with back spasms. The transaction opens a spot on the 40-man roster for reliever Andres Machado, who had his contract selected from Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday.
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Nationals' Victor Robles: Reports improvement
Rotowire
Robles (back) was spotted in the Nationals clubhouse Monday and said he feels "much better," Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Robles still hadn't resumed baseball activities at last check, but he appears to have made some progress. The center fielder has barely played since early May, having made two trips to the injured list with nagging back issues. Washington hasn't provided an updated timeline for his return.
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Nationals' Victor Robles: No baseball activities yet
Rotowire
Robles (back) has yet to be cleared for baseball activities, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Robles was placed on the injured list June 21 with spasms in his lumbar spine, and he's still limited to core strengthening work more than a week later. It seems doubtful he'll be able to return before the All-Star break at this point. Derek Hill has started nine straight games in center field for Washington in Robles' absence.
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Nationals' Victor Robles: Returns to IL with back spasms
Rotowire
The Nationals placed Robles on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with spasms in his lumbar spine, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
Robles was sidelined for approximately five weeks due to a back issue before he returned from the IL last Friday, but he lasted just five games before succumbing to a setback at some point during Tuesday's 9-3 loss to the Cardinals. Given the recurring nature of the injury, the Nationals could look to take a cautious approach with Robles and keep him on the shelf beyond the minimum 10 days. The Nationals called up Derek Hill from Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday in a corresponding move, and he and Stone Garrett could both benefit from a playing-time standpoint while Washington looks to fill Robles' spot in the outfield.
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Nationals' Victor Robles: Returns from IL
Rotowire
The Nationals reinstated Robles (back) from the 10-day injured list Friday.
Back spasms forced Robles onto the injured list May 8, and he is now ready to return to the Nationals' lineup after a four-game rehab assignment. Robles went 4-for-11 with two homers, five RBI and five runs scored during his assignment and figures to slide right back into his role as the Nats' everyday center fielder. Alex Call was optioned to Triple-A Rochester in a corresponding move.
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Nationals' Victor Robles: Set for rehab assignment
Rotowire
Robles (back) is set to begin a rehab assignment Thursday with Triple-A Rochester, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Zuckerman writes that Robles "could spend up to a week" on the farm getting back into baseball shape. He's been out for a full month because of a lingering back injury. Alex Call continues to serve as the Nationals' primary center fielder. He could serve as Washington's No. 4 outfielder whenever Robles is activated.
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Nationals' Victor Robles: Runs bases Wednesday
Rotowire
Robles (back) ran the bases at Nationals Park on Wednesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Robles seemed to come out of it with no issues and he continues to ramp up baseball activities. He could begin a rehab assignment as soon as this weekend, with an official decision expected soon.
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Nationals' Victor Robles: Nearing rehab assignment
Rotowire
Robles (back) could begin a rehab assignment this weekend, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Robles resumed baseball activities last week and should soon be able to return to live competition at one of the Nationals' minor-league affiliates if he's able to avoid further setbacks. He's been on the shelf since May 8 because of a lingering back injury.
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Nationals' Victor Robles: Taking batting practice
Rotowire
Robles (back) is set to take batting practice Friday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
The hope is that Robles will be able to incorporate running and agility drills into his rehab work sometime around the middle of next week. He's been on the shelf since May 8 due to a lingering back injury. There remains no timeline for his return to the Nationals' active roster, but the 26-year-old outfielder is at least showing signs of progress.
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Nationals' Victor Robles: No improvement yet with back
Rotowire
Robles has shown no improvement yet in his recovery from a back injury, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
It's a concerning update (or non-update) given that Robles has been on the injured list for more than two weeks with what was originally labeled as back spasms. He might require some sort of imaging scans to get to the root of the issue. Alex Call continues to draw everyday starts in center field for the Nationals.
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Nationals' Victor Robles: Officially lands on IL
Rotowire
The Nationals placed Robles (back) on the 10-day injured list Monday.
Robles suffered from back spasms while sliding into a base during Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks. The Nationals haven't provided a formal timeline for Robles' return, but he'll be eligible for activation May 17. While Robles is sidelined, Alex Call will likely serve as the Nationals' center fielder, and Stone Garrett could pick up more playing time in right field.
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Nationals' Victor Robles: Will be placed on IL
Rotowire
Robles will be placed on the injured list with back spasms, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
It had been reported previously that Robles was likely headed to the IL, and Nationals manager Dave Martinez has now confirmed it. Robles was injured on a slide Saturday, and it's unclear how much time he might miss. Alex Call will handle center field while Robles is out, and Jake Alu will replace him on the roster.
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Nationals' Victor Robles: Likely heading to IL
Rotowire
Robles (back) is expected to be placed on the 10-day injured list Monday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Robles is out of the lineup Sunday after he sustained the back injury on a slide during Saturday's contest, and it appears he'll be sidelined for at least the next 10 days. Jake Alu is traveling to join the team for Monday's series opener in San Francisco.
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Nationals' Victor Robles: Nursing back issue
Rotowire
Robles is out of the lineup for Sunday's game at Arizona due to a back injury, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Robles suffered the injury during Saturday's contest when he was thrown out attempting to steal second base after he walked in the third inning, which prompted his removal from the game. The specifics of the injury remain unclear, and the 25-year-old should be considered day-to-day as he's evaluated. Alex Call will shift to center field Sunday while Stone Garrett starts in left.
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Nationals' Victor Robles: Drives in two Sunday
Rotowire
Robles went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 7-2 victory over the Pirates.
Robles broke the game open in the third inning, driving in Dominic Smith and CJ Abrams with a one-out double. The 25-year-old Robles has gotten off to a nice start this season, slashing .278/.374/.354 with eight RBI, 12 runs scored and six stolen bases. Now in his fifth full season, Robles has yet to provide consistent offensive production in the MLB. He has been useful thus far, but given that he hit .216 with a .291 OBP from 2020 through 2022, there is likely some regression coming for his slash line.
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Nationals' Victor Robles: Walks twice, steals two bases
Rotowire
Robles went 0-for-2 with one run scored and two steals in Wednesday's win over the Mets.
Robles picked up his fifth and sixth steals of the season Wednesday, the 12th-highest total in the league despite only having 68 at-bats on the year. Though Robles was a menace on the basepaths, he struggled to put the ball in play, walking twice and striking out in his other two plate appearances. Considering the 25-year-old has been a mainstay in the nine hole in one of MLB's worst offenses, Robles will remain tough to trust from a fantasy perspective.
