The Red Sox announced this morning that they’ve exercised their club option on outfielder Rob Refsnyder for the 2025 season. Refsnyder will make $2.1MM in 2025.
The decision to exercise Refsnyder’s option was surely an easy one for the Red Sox, given the low financial cost associated with the deal and his excellent 2024 campaign. Though Refsnyder was only a part-time player for the Red Sox this year with just 307 trips to the plate across 93 plate appearances, the 33-year-old slashed an excellent .283/.359/.471 with a 130 wRC+, including a .302/.393/.548 with a 160 wRC+ against left-handed pitching. That ability to rake against southpaws is particularly valuable for the Red Sox due to their lefty-heavy lineup, where Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, and Masataka Yoshida are all swing lefty in the outfield mix.
Refsnyder hasn’t simply been a one-season wonder, either. The veteran has provided the club with quality production off the bench in each of his three seasons in Boston, slashing a solid .278/.367/.427 (122 wRC+) in 727 trips to the plate with the club since he first joined them back in 2022. That sort of steady production in a bench role can be difficult to come by, making today’s decision to bring Refsnyder back for 2025 something of a no-brainer. The biggest possible hurdle to Refsnyder returning to the Red Sox next year was the possibility that he could contemplate retirement following the 2024 campaign, but he put those questions to bed in late September when he suggested that he would be open to playing “a couple more years” before hanging up the cleats.
Obvious as the move to bring Refsnyder back into the fold for 2025 was, however, it only serves to highlight just how crowded the club’s outfield mix has become. Duran and Abreu figure to get the lion’s share of starts in two of three outfield spots next year with both Refsnyder and Yoshida also on the roster as players restricted to outfield and DH duties. Ceddanne Rafaela, meanwhile, is capable of playing all over the diamond but is the club’s best defensive center fielder on the roster and not nearly as well regarded defensively when on the infield dirt.
Playing time figures to be further complicated by the impending arrival of top prospect Roman Anthony, another lefty swinging outfielder, and the club has also been heavily rumored to have interest in adding an everyday player who hits from the right side like incumbent slugger Tyler O’Neill or 2023-24 offseason target Teoscar Hernandez to the lineup this winter. With so many outfield options to be considered, it would hardly be a surprise if the Red Sox looked to deal from their outfield mix in order to clear up playing time and address the rotation. If such a trade does come to pass, however, Refsnyder is unlikely to be the one departing the Red Sox. Moving on from his $2.1MM salary would be relatively inconsequential in the great picture of Boston’s financial outlook, and one year of a part time player is unlikely to command a major return on the trade market.
No surprise there
Biker – It’s about as big a surprise as Giolito exercising his option.
Good move for them. He’s a nice little clutch utility piece.
World Series!!!!
Full throttle!!
That was last year. But if we’re going to talk about the past.., then let’s just shout, World Series Champs !!
Sure, why not. Just make him a full-time DH. Guy does not save runs when he’s in the field.
Fringe player Boston media glorifies.
Guy’s got an .830 OPS, good for 29% above average.
I’m not a Red Sox fan by any means, but it’s clear this is an easy call for $2 million.
You seem to be suffering from not knowing ball, unfortunately.
Exactly. He accepts his role (right handed platoon OFer) and generally does it well. The only question was whether or not he wanted to keep playing, as he expressed doubts on that later in the season last year. But if he’s still got the drive to play he’s a good player to keep around.
Perhaps looking for more $$$$?
Someone didn’t get enough attention at home.
Veteran lefty killer for 2 mill? Easy call
You meed guys like these to round out the team. Not sure glorifying is the right word. He’s a good clubhouse guy who fills a need.
important reserve but his defense took a hit last year and if this is the 25 full throttle move, I’m done. I just don’t trust ownership, which is amazing considering the run the club was on.
Calm down Dewey. This is a role player, a good one, signing a 2 million dollar deal (a bargain) to continue on in the same role. No one is terribly concerned with his defense. This is day 1 of the offseason, your team signs a role player, and you’re ready to slit your wrists. Gonna be a long winter for you.
This is a role player, a good one, signing a 2 million dollar deal (a bargain)
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I see this all the time. Every time a AAA 3rd string catcher is signed, the fans line up at the Tobin. This move was automatic, and even the idea that we should be DFA’ing a RH OF at this point, is crazy.
Of course he was coming back. I’m just so sick of Henry making Sox fans look like fools so he can invest elsewhere. Only way he again tries to win is if it hits him in the pocketbook and he has no choice. Boycott Fenway, The Glove and NESN. As long as he’s maximizing his returns, he’s happy. Remember, he made his money arbitraging and he’ll continue to invest where the return he believes is the highest. That used to be the Red Sox but not today.
Of course he was coming back. I’m just so sick of Henry making Sox fans look like fools so he can invest elsewhere. Only way he again tries to win is if it hits him in the pocketbook and he has no choice. Boycott Fenway, The Globe and NESN. As long as he’s maximizing his returns, he’s happy. Remember, he made his money arbitraging and he’ll continue to invest where the return he believes is the highest. That used to be the Red Sox but not today.
Joe: it’s the same group of overgrown babies who think the only thing the sox should do is sign or trade for big names as if filling out the roster isn’t part of doing business.
Acell, of course the 25th and 26th men are important but ownership the last few years has filled the roster with these type of players. Seeing is believing and Sox fans shouldn’t be blind.
you still need the 25th and 26th guys. If you want to complain about them not signing a big money free agent have at it but that doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t be working to fill out the roster
They need ace pitching to contend, but that doesn’t mean they should neglect the lesser moves.
He’s a solid RHH platoon player and bench bat, worth the $2M and the roster spot. He might end up platooning with Yoshida at DH, as Yoshida struggles badly against LHP.
Yoshida struggles badly against LHP.
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I wouldn’t concede that point yet. He has a .810/.669 split, but that’s with BABIPs of .328 & .257.
Against RHP he has an 89.4 EV and a .336 xwOBA. Against LHP he has an 86.1 EV and a .292 xwOBA.
His quality of contact against LHP is miserable. That .257 BABIP is within the range of outcomes for major league hitters (the Steamer projections have a range of .245 to .341), and is about what you would expect given an 86.1 exit velocity. He doesn’t have the foot speed to beat out weak contact.
I could not agree more. The JHenry ownership team needs to sell..
Yup, I am spending way too much money on World Series Championship sweatshirts:)
Wow…and for all those commenters who endlessly prosecuted the Yankees for how inept Ref was, and proposed his trade value to be a “bag of balls” or “a bag of double bubble) seems he does have major league ballplayer value doesn’t he.
I think the beating that the NYY fans took was for continually suggesting that Ref and Andujar and Clint Frazier, et al, should be traded for Trout. and guys like that.
That happens to most fan bases, but it was pretty amusing at the time.
@rocky: Never “endlessly prosecuted” (or even commented to) those who’ve denigrated Refsnyder’s trade value, but there’s a difference between having “major league ballplayer value” and trade value. Good value for the Sox for the obvious reasons noted by several in the thread, but imo would bring back little to nothing of value for the ML roster.
Rocky, I’ve said it many times before, Ref clearly won the battle against Swihart and worked his butt off to be where he is.
Not a bad start… Ref did nicely against lefties.. only concern was he was batting any where from 3-5 in order last year.. don’t know if that’s gonna fly next season..
Okay so now with another outfielder locked up you need to trade Yoshida and Jaren Duran this off season.
Yoshida might be tough but I think you sell high on Duran right now. Get Young starting pitching if you can.
guess we know what Cap he will wear come his HOF induction!
Further cementing his future HOF legacy. Easy RS decision for Ref.
No brainer.. he’s cheap, a good clubhouse guy and a nice guy
This is just Step 1 in Operation Right Handed Hitter (ORHH). The next steps are to purge (trade) at least 2 of the LHH from the active roster. Here’s how I see that happening:
1) Trade Yoshida by either eating 70% of his contract or swap him out for another team’s bad contract (preferably a pitcher).
2) Trade Casas and another high level prospect for a solid #2 starting pitcher.
3) Sign Teoscar Hernandez and teach him to play some 1B. He can alternate between LH & 1B when needed.
4) Trade Wilyer Abreu for an established, All-Star level relief pitcher with term left on his contract. (This is predicated on Roman Anthony being ready to play in the big leagues).
5) Sign / trade for another RHH batter who has some defensive versatility but has established himself as a good, defensive 3B. (Mayer should be up this year and could be moved to 3B if Story can remain healthy).
6) Teach Devers to play 1B. He will eventually move to DH, but he’s still too young to be moved to DH. He has quick hands but limited range so 1B could be a great home for him for 2-3 more years.
I hate to give up on Casas & Abreu, but you need to use talent to acquire controllable talent in MLB.
As I’ve said before I’d much rather sell high on Duran than give up Abreu and Casas. I’m not opposed to moving Casas (although I’d rather not) but doing so now would represent selling low.
You’re not selling low on Casas who should be fine. Like all young players, he will command more and more in salary. His return should be fine or if not, he’s not moved. In my view, he, a top prospect and say Hamilton should get you a 1.5 type. To me, Anthony is untraceable. Campbell might be the guy moved.
Casas is coming off an injury plagued season that will depress his value.
The Red Sox must get older and become a legitimate playoff contender just to get me to watch them next season. I’m all in on them trading all of the following players for 2 or 3 legitimate All Star Pitchers (such as Skubal, Crochet, and Hunter Greene):
Crawford, Whitlock, Criswell, Roman Anthony (yes I FRICKIN said RA), Casas, Rafaela, Winckowski, Slaten, Isiah Campbell, Abreu, Hamilton, Sogard, Fitts, Chris Murphy, Enmanuel Valdez & Vaughn Grissom.
I’m also NOT counting on any injured players to contribute next year (that includes Giolito & Hendriks).
They made $500+ million in revenue but only spent $250 million last year? If so, they should have no problem spending $300 to $350 million a year!
I am all for this move. Ref is a pro’s pro and such leadership is needed in the Red Sox dugout. He could also easily transition to be a solid coach in the very near future.
Refsnyder is a steal at 2million especially with his production and good all around baseball skills. He could start on a lot of teams full time, he hits righties too, good D, smart player, with 8 or 9 OF I don’t understand it but maybe he’s a solid trade addition? Or straight up due to his cost and abilities he’s easily an 8 to 10 mill talent at this point and a veteran in a full time role.
He’s probably not a good trade candidate because he’s been talking about retiring soon to move to the front office.
Come on, Deeds. “Either” shouldn’t have a comma before it. “Meanwhile” has to come at the start of the sentence, not in the middle between commas. Worst of all, “obvious as the move to bring Refsnyder back into the fold for 2025 was” is NOT PROPER ENGLISH. You can’t just leave “as” out at the start of the sentence. It isn’t optional, and neither is correct grammar for a professional writer who works for MLBTR. You people need to find better writers.