Orioles Outright Will Robertson, Removed From 40-Man Roster

The Baltimore Orioles made a quiet but telling roster move involving outfielder Will Robertson. His career sits at the crossroads of promise and uncertainty.

After a brief stint on waivers following a December roster shuffle, Robertson now heads to Triple-A Norfolk. His bat will get tested there—again.

Orioles Outright Will Robertson to Triple-A Norfolk

The Orioles announced that Will Robertson cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. This came after he was designated for assignment on December 28, which Baltimore needed to do after signing starting pitcher Zach Eflin.

The transaction itself flew under the radar. It ended nearly two weeks of roster uncertainty for Robertson.

Holiday timing played a role. DFA rules in late December slowed the waiver process, leaving Robertson in limbo while clubs decided if his upside justified a 40-man roster spot.

None of them took the chance.

Why Robertson Couldn’t Choose Free Agency

This was Robertson’s first outright assignment, and he has less than three years of major-league service time. He can’t elect free agency yet, so he must stay in the Orioles’ organization and report to Norfolk.

That lack of leverage is typical for players with Robertson’s service time, especially those still trying to carve out a big-league role.

A Late Bloomer With a Complicated Resume

Robertson, now 28, was originally drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2019. He never carried much prospect hype, mostly flying under the radar due to swing-and-miss concerns and a defensive profile limited to the corner outfield spots.

His career took an intriguing turn in 2025, when he produced a surprising offensive breakout in Triple-A.

Eye-Popping Triple-A Numbers in 2025

At Triple-A last season, Robertson was one of the more productive bats in the International League. Over 354 plate appearances, he posted:

Those numbers earned him a brief call-up. He landed on the radar of several front offices, including Baltimore’s, which claimed him off waivers from the Pirates earlier in December.

Why MLB Teams Remained Skeptical

Despite the surface-level success, clubs across the league doubted the sustainability of Robertson’s breakout. That skepticism probably explains why he cleared waivers without a claim.

Red Flags in the Data

Several factors worked against Robertson:

Combine those with his age and roster constraints, and teams hesitated to commit a 40-man spot.

A Tough MLB Introduction

Robertson’s first taste of the majors didn’t help his case. In just 75 plate appearances, he struggled, slashing .129/.173/.143.

The sample size was small, but there wasn’t much evidence that his Triple-A surge would translate against major-league pitching.

What This Means for the Orioles

For Baltimore, the move feels low-risk. The team keeps a player who showed some recent offensive spark and gets more roster flexibility at the same time.

If Robertson’s 2025 breakout turns out to be real, the Orioles might get a power bat at Triple-A who’s ready to jump in.

Still, his path back to the majors looks pretty murky. Baltimore’s outfield is stacked—maybe one of the deepest in the American League—so chances are going to be hard to come by.

For now, Will Robertson heads back to Norfolk with a chip on his shoulder, hoping to prove himself yet again.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Orioles Outright Will Robertson