Red Sox Give Outfielder Extension After Another Strong Start To Season

Boston is giving out a rare mid-season deal this summer

Scott Neville | Jun 3, 2023

Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images

In this story:

Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox locked up one of their most reliable depth pieces for the next two seasons, a player who has thrived in Boston after failing to stick on at five other stops in his major league career.

The Red Sox have signed outfielder Rob Refsnyder to a one-year, $1.85 million contract extension that includes a $2 million club option for 2025," MassLive's Chris Cotillo wrote Saturday. "The deal also includes potential bonuses and escalators."

Before signing with the Red Sox prior to the 2022 season, Refsnyder hit .224 with a .310 on-base percentage, .618 OPS and 70 OPS+ in 232 games across five franchises -- The New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers and Minnesota Twins.

Since then, Refsynder has hit .299 with a .393 on-base percentage, .850 OPS and 133 OPS+ in 90 games for Boston. The 32-year-old has totally re-invented himself since Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom took a chance on him, and it has paid off in spades for both sides.

The Red Sox use Refsynder as a platoon outfielder against left-handed pitching as well as a reliable fourth outfielder when needed. He's not only hit well but played excellent outfield defense and been a reliable baserunner.

Refsnyder is a perfect example of a role player. He excels in certain matchups and can be called upon in big spots when needed. Now he'll have at least one more season in his current role with a chance to earn the aforementioned club option for 2025.

More MLB: Red Sox Role Player Potentially Undergoing Position Change Amid Roster Turnover

Published Jun 3, 2023

SCOTT NEVILLE

Scott Neville covers the Boston Red Sox for Sports Illustrated's new page "Inside The Red Sox." Before starting "Inside The Red Sox", Neville attended Merrimack College, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Media with a minor in Marketing. Neville spent all four years with Merrimack's radio station WMCK, where he grew as a radio/podcast host and producer. His propensity for being in front of a microphone eventually expanded to film, where he produced multiple short films alongside his then-roommate and current co-worker Stephen Mottram. On a journey that began as a way to receive easy credits via film classes, he received a call from "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" star Charlie Day. Day advised him to make a feature-length film, which he completed his senior year. While writing the film, Neville completed an internship for United Way as part of their NFL Partnership Program. Neville ran the blog for a team of interns and hosted an internet show called "United Way's NFL Partnership Series" where he interviewed NFL alumni. After college Neville wrote for SB Nation's "Over The Monster," a Red Sox sister site of the flagship brand. His work would eventually lead him to a job as a content producer with NESN, where he would cover all sports. After developing as a writer with the top regional network in the world, he was given the opportunity to join the Sports Illustrated Media Group in his current endeavor as the publisher of "Inside The Red Sox." The successful launch and quick rise of "Inside The Red Sox" led to Neville joining the Baseball Essential ownership group, a national baseball site under SIMG. Follow him on Twitter: @ScottNeville46 Email: nevilles@merrimack.edu