Red Sox made right decision letting .838 OPS slugger sign with Mariners for $6.25M
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Red Sox made right decision letting .838 OPS slugger sign with Mariners for $6.25M originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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The Boston Red Sox are having a nightmare 2026 season, but it's not all been bad. Ceddane Rafaela has played well, Wilyer Abreu and Jarren Duran have had their moments, and the outfield as a whole has been fine.
But, over the offseason, there was some concern about some regression. And while the Roman Anthony injury stings, and things aren't totally going to plan, there is one move the Red Sox do not regret passing on this offseason.
Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report identified former Red Sox slugger, who posted an .838 OPS last year, as the player the Seattle Mariners are most likely to DFA this season. Letting Rob Refsnyder walk for $6.25 million was the right call from the Red Sox.
Red Sox made right decision not to re-sign Rob Refsnyder
"During his four seasons with the Red Sox, Refsnyder was a ridiculously good 'right-handed half of a platoon' option," Miller writes. "... Except Refsnyder has gone from a one-trick pony to a zero-trick pony, presently 9-for-66 with 23 strikeouts and a .483 OPS against southpaws."
The Red Sox could've brought Refsnyder back after a few strong seasons in Boston. But Craig Breslow let him walk, seeing him sign for $6.25 million with the Mariners.
That was a great decision, as instead of his .838 OPS and great production against left-handed pitching, Refsnyder has a .443 OPS for Seattle and is struggling against lefties this season.
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His 27 OPS+ is significantly worse than his 134 OPS+ from 2025 and his 133 OPS+ from the 2024 season in Boston.
Normally, letting a player who is producing that well walk is a terrible decision. But, this has been a great decision from the Red Sox, one of the only few such good moves from the offseason made by Breslow and company.
Miller named Refsnyder as the player the Mariners are most likely to DFA this season, and based on his production, it's not a surprise at all.
Letting him walk to join the Mariners was a great decision from the Red Sox, as Refsnyder has been terrible this season.
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