Red Sox extend outfielder Rob Refsnyder
Red Sox keep key bench depth through 2024 with a club option for 2025
The Boston Red Sox announced today that they have extended outfielder Rob Refsnyder, per Alex Speier of the Boston Globe.
The extension is for one year and will include a player option in 2025.
Originally, Refsnyder was scheduled to be headed into his last year of arbitration before becoming a free agent in 2025. Speier notes Refsnyder will make $1.85 million in 2024 and the club option is for $2 million, the deal also includes performance bonuses and escalators.
This extension allows the Red Sox to control Refsnyder through 2025 if they want to. The deal makes sense to keep a player that knows their role under control and cost controlled. Refsnyder signed a minor league deal in November 2021. He bounced around from different organizations before finally finding a home at Fenway. He has hit .299/.393/.457 through 2022 and this current season.
The use of the 32 year old has been key to his success as he has been crushing lefties. This season in 52 ABs Refsnyder has a .949 OPS vs left-hander’s in comparison to just .512 in 29 at-bats against righties. Chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom and his front office is known for making small moves that have a larger impact than expected.
Refsnyder is arguably the best offensive contributor Bloom has brought in on a minor league deal during his tenure with the Red Sox.
Refsnyder gets to kick off his extension by batting 5th today as the Red Sox take on the Tampa Bay Rays in a scheduled double header. Oddly enough, Refsnyder is facing the righty Trevor Kelley this afternoon. Kelley is only expected to be an opener though.
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