Welcome again to the 2025-26 version of Smash or Pass, through which we study potential free agent and commerce targets to find out whether or not the Pink Sox ought to pursue them and what it could take to land them. Subsequent up, an in-house veteran who is without doubt one of the finest hitters within the recreation… in a single explicit situation.
After the 2024 season Rob Refsnyder thought-about retiring. However he didn’t, explaining:
“Actually it was simply the dialog, final 12 months was my final assured take care of right here,” Refsnyder stated. “…I didn’t actually know the longer term. If nobody has curiosity then yeah, I’d go on and do the following factor. I’m blissful I’m right here and that is my final 12 months right here that I assured so we’ll see what occurs.”
OTM’s Maura McGurk wrote about 2024 as his profession 12 months! How might he take into consideration strolling away? And now as a free agent, he’s dealing with the identical selection: grasp up as a participant or roll the cube one other time.
Who’s he and the place does he come from?
Rob Refsnyder was taken within the fifth spherical of the 2012 draft by the New York Yankees. He’d spend the primary two-and-a-half seasons within the majors (2015-2017) taking part in primarily second base but in addition some first base and each outfield corners. And one time he appeared at third. do not forget that for Immaculate Grid. You’ll thank me later.
Halfway via the 2017 season he’d discover himself despatched to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Then he spent a 12 months with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Then a 12 months in Texas with the Rangers and yet one more with the Minnesota Twins.
Refsnyder wouldn’t arrive in Boston till 2022 and, lastly, hopefully, start to unpack.
Over his 4 years with the Pink Sox the righty has compiled a .276/.364/.440 line with 27 residence runs, 48 doubles, and 100 walks (225 strikeouts) over 309 video games, largely as a platoon bat towards southpaws.
He averaged 0.9 bWAR per season as a part-time participant. Per 162 recreation he was value about 1.9 bWAR. He’s performing some good work off the bench.
That does come along with his limitation: he actually is a platoon bat. Towards right-handed pitching he’s hit a pedestrian .229/.301/.332 in his profession. However put him in towards lefties and it’s a distinct story: 281/.383/.443. Practically 200 factors of OPS completely different.
TLDR; simply give me his 2025 stats.
In 209 plate appearances throughout 70 video games Refsnyder hit .269/.354/.484 which breaks right down to .212/.268/.348 towards righties and a whopping .302/.399/.560 towards lefties. That’s an OPS that’s reaching in the direction of 1.000. He crushed lefties in a approach that was uncommon even for him. It was an admittedly small pattern, however nonetheless, put him in a spot he can succeed and good issues can occur.
Why would he be a great match on the 2025 Pink Sox?
You may nearly make it a chant:
“Proper-handed energy!”
“When do we would like it?”
The Sox know Refsnyder. They like Refsnyder. He’s one of many legendary clubhouse guys and “coach on the sector” sorts who envisions moving into teaching or the entrance workplace when he’s achieved as a participant. He’s bought veteran standing and management for no matter that’s value — which is unquestionably one thing — on a crew that has turned over its legacy gamers moderately quick.
And he’s in all probability taking a look at one 12 months for low cash.
Why wouldn’t he be a great match on the Pink Sox?
Have you ever seen the outfield logjam? Even after buying and selling Password, the Sox nonetheless have depth on the main league stage they will commerce from. Refsnyder is restricted defensively. He’s getting up there in age (which can be on the positives record for searching for much less however what are you able to do) and does are inclined to have some nagging accidents. Do they actually make room for a fourth or fifth outfielder when you should still want protection for heart discipline and a lefty platoon companion?
Present me a cool spotlight.
Solely the longest residence run hit by a Pink Sox participant this season.
Assuming they commerce Duran or Abreu and no matter signing Alex Bregman or buying and selling for Ketel Marte (each righties), the Pink Sox want somebody within the outfield who’s a giant bat not directly towards opposing lefties. So smash this one all day. But when they don’t commerce any outfielders then there actually is not any area to place him when you think about a wholesome Masa utilizing the DH spot and a bit of little bit of left discipline rotation. However there are numerous nice roster permutations with Rob Refsnyder on the 26-man, sitting subsequent to Alex Cora, and (I assume) regaling Roman Anthony with tales of his a few years in baseball.
Plus he was talked about in an episode of Reacher. Given as an alias. How a lot cooler can one participant be?
