Jerry Dipoto’s blind faith in Victor Robles cost Mariners more than it should have

Zachary Rymer argues that Seattle Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto made a costly mistake by extending outfielder Victor Robles. The club declined Robles' $9 million team option for the 2027 season, instead paying a $500,000 buyout. Robles originally joined the Mariners in June 2024 after being released by the Washington Nationals, quickly earning a two-year, $9.75 million extension after an initial hot stretch.

Rymer writes that Dipoto relied on an unsustainable outlier performance rather than broader career trends. Robles missed 227 games over the past two seasons due to injuries, appeared in only 97 contests, and produced barely replacement-level offense with an 81 wRC+ across 2025 and 2026.