Red Sox avoid arbitration with Rob Refsnyder, will return in 2023
The Red Sox avoided arbitration with outfielder Rob Refsnyder on a one-year, $1.2 million deal, per The Athletic’s Chad Jennings.
Refsnyder was an impact player off the bench for the Red Sox last season. The former fifth-round pick played in 57 games, one off his career high of 58 games.
The 31-year-old hit .307, 47 hits, 11 doubles, a career high six homers, 21 RBIs with an .881 OPS.
The University of Arizona product crushed left-handed pitching last season with a .359 average and 1.005 OPS in 73 plate appearances.
Refsnyder will serve as a nice fourth outfielder option for manager Alex Cora in 2023.
“He’s a guy we definitely can rely on,” Cora said. “We recognized it in spring training. I remember we were talking (during) the lockout and all that. We had our meetings with the information department. And the ability to impact the baseball was there, and the projections. Defensively solid. It’s a matter of staying healthy.”
Defensively Refsnyder made an outstanding catch in a game against the Mariners. In the bottom of the eight inning with one out, the right fielder arguably made the best catch of the season for Boston.
Watch: Rob Refsynder with the catch of the year for the Red Sox
Refsynder’s superman diving catch robbed Ty France of extra bases and the possibility of the Mariners getting something started in the inning.
Boston avoiding arbitration with Refsnyder was one of the first moves for Chaim Bloom and his front office this offseason.
“Rob obviously did an incredible job for us last year and was a real find by our people to get him on a minor-league deal,” said general manager Brian O’Halloran. “Obviously, he has had success in the past, but some of the swing changes and the work he did in the offseason really helped him. He was a really, really good player for us, primarily against lefties, but was also a really good outfielder. We’re glad to have him back and signed up to be part of our outfield group.”
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