LOCUC IEFINE with STEVE CAMERON: M proved Victor Robles right… who knew?

Victor, please explain this whole process to our readers.

I seriously doubt they will understand how a player is designated for assignment (waived), then rejected by every team in major league baseball – who could sign him for FREE.

Sorry, they said.

No interest.

But then, the same player, without medical improvement or visits from aliens, lands a two- or three-year deal with one of the same teams that said no.

You’d have to think a lonely team with two key players injured would give this guy a few weeks to see if he can play – you know, when the price was fast.

Zero.

Nada.

“Guys, I brought my own gear. I won’t even cost you the price of a suspender.”

Ummm.

Still nothing.

Hey, it worked with Willie Mays Hayes in the movie “Major League.”

Maybe our guy had some good-looking fights in the Baja California League stored on tape in a closet somewhere.

I have to admit, though, that while I’ve raved and written about this outfielder — actually suggested the Mariners take a chance on him — that the numbers don’t look good.

Hi Victor Robles.

Great speed, defense, throwing arm, skilled base runner, and by all accounts a great teammate.

Unfortunately, his hitting looked like he was using his bat (any bat) as a paddle.

After 14 games into his seventh season with the Nats — including all seven thrillers in center field as they won the World Series in 2019 — Washington called it quits.

HE HAD to be painful

“If we don’t have Victor, we’re not going to win the World Series,” Washington manager Davey Martinez said. “Somehow, a team is going to turn him around and have a really special player in the lineup.”

When you hear a phrase like “justify him,” you immediately think the guy is a bad actor, a social problem, someone on probation for domestic violence, something in that neighborhood.

The Nationals, however, insist Robles is just a great character.

Fun.

Great to have in the clubhouse.

There could be a problem with Victor having TOO much fun and not working hard enough on his game.

“I don’t see it being possible,” Martinez said. “He works as hard as anybody.”

The numbers don’t lie, though, and Robles seemed to be in a slump that would never end.

It’s not a home run, but (like many of the Mariners) he can get into a route where he swings too hard.

In 14 games with Washington this season, Victor had three hits, good for a .120 batting average, and his OPS was .401.

No one was shocked when he was released.

No one was shocked when it was unclaimed.

It was a shock when Seattle filed after Robles went through the entire process.

There were scouts and personnel people who thought maybe Seattle was getting a cheap defender/pinch runner without using one of their own minor leaguers.

WHY NOT?

It was all about Julio Rodriguez and Dominic Canzone, both injured.

They need someone to wear a sailor uniform, and Moose was busy with public affairs duties.

It sounds like we’re kidding, but if you’re weak in the field, Robles can play all three positions well above major league average.

In all seriousness, he’s a handy guy to have around.

Seattle’s front office could have very easily found Robles as a quarterback/running back for all the tight ends this team plays.

Without being callous, they probably figured it wouldn’t matter if Victor cared to hit or that they didn’t have a full-time spot for him.

Except.

Robles didn’t get the memo about just hanging around.

Sure, Victor can be fun — he was a blast wearing a microphone for Sunday Night Baseball less than a week ago — but he takes the game seriously.

He meant ANY game, not just Sunday.

“This team can win anything. There is talent and the atmosphere is cool in Seattle.”

The message has been received.

“He wants us to know we’re good enough to win it all,” catcher Cal Raleigh said. “It doesn’t hurt, coming from a guy who did it.”

Robles promised manager Scott Servais that he would work to find his lost swing.

This is a player, remember, who was picked just ahead of Juan Soto in the MLB draft.

Besides all the fun (imagine Robles, Julio and Randy Arozarena on the same court) Victor wants to start winning again.

By the way, with Robles now signed for two additional years — with a team option for a third — that “Three Amigos” pitcher could technically be under contract with the Mariners for three years.

At least.

“Great times,” Robles said, “but that’s if we win.”

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Steve Cameron’s Cheap Places columns appear in The Press four times a week, usually Tuesday to Friday, unless, you know, things happen.

Steve suggests taking his thoughts in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”