How Mariners can turn discarded outfielder Leody Taveras into Victor Robles 2.0

The Seattle Mariners may have struck gold on the waiver wire again. In what feels like a case of déjà vu, Seattle claimed outfielder Leody Taveras off waivers from the Texas Rangers, hoping to turn another once-hyped, now-overlooked talent into a spark plug.

If this story sounds familiar, it should. Just a year ago, the Mariners took a similar gamble on Victor Robles, and it paid off handsomely.

Taveras, like Robles, was once considered a cornerstone outfielder — athletic, fast, and brimming with potential. Both players debuted in their early 20s, both were World Series champions with their original teams, and both were cast aside like damaged goods after failing to reach their ceilings.

In fact, their career numbers through their age-26 seasons are nearly mirror images.

• Home Runs: Robles (31), Taveras (39)
• Doubles: Robles (78), Taveras (77)
• Batting Average: Robles (.238), Taveras (.240)
• OPS+: Robles (82), Taveras (85)

Leody Taveras could thrive in Seattle just like Victor Robles

The similarities extend to their struggles. In 2022, Robles ranked near the bottom of the league in expected batting average, expected slugging, and hard-hit rate. His walk rate sat at a paltry 4.2 percent, and his 23.8 hard-hit percentage placed him in the bottom one percent of the league.

But once Robles arrived in Seattle, something clicked. His strikeouts declined and while the power never fully returned, he became a dynamic table-setter — stealing 34 bases and slashing .307/.381/.433 in 2024.

Now, Taveras arrives in Seattle with almost identical issues. His walk rate in 2025 has cratered to just 2.4 percent, while his strikeout rate has ballooned to 28 percent. He isn’t barreling the ball, and his offensive profile has grown more timid each week. Like Robles, the raw tools are still there. He’s a switch-hitter with speed, defensive versatility, and a history of flirting with 20/20 seasons, even reaching that milestone in 2021 across the minors and majors.

To be clear, the Rangers didn’t dump Taveras solely because of his struggles — they also needed to clear salary to duck under the luxury tax line. But that doesn’t mean Taveras wasn’t in need of a change of scenery. Seattle offers a second chance with a team that knows how to rehabilitate a career and a clubhouse already familiar with this script.

There’s also a cultural and clubhouse benefit. Taveras, like Robles and superstar Julio Rodríguez, hails from the Dominican Republic. That familiarity and shared background could go a long way toward helping him settle in, communicate, and regain his confidence.

And with Robles out for at least a couple more months, Taveras slots in as an immediate depth piece who can cover all three outfield spots and hit from both sides of the plate. If the Mariners can tap into his potential, much like they did with Robles, they might have just pulled off another savvy resurrection story.

Sometimes all it takes is the right environment, the right mentors, and a team willing to believe. Seattle has proven it knows how to build that culture. Now, it’s Taveras’ turn to make the most of it.