The Indians announced today that they’ve claimed infielder/outfielder Rob Refsnyder off waivers from the Blue Jays and designated left-hander Kyle Crockett and Dylan Baker for assignment. Cleveland has also selected the contracts of right-hander Julian Merryweather and infielders Willi Castro, Yu Chang and Eric Stamets. That series of moves fills the Indians’ 40-man roster and leaves the Blue Jays’ 40-man roster at a total of 33 players.
The 26-year-old Refsnyder split the 2017 season between the Yankees (who originally drafted him in 2012) and the Blue Jays but struggled to a composite .170/.247/.216 slash line. While Refsnyder has long turned in intriguing offensive stats in the minors, he’s batted just .233/.306/.311 in 320 big league plate appearances. At one point, Yankees fans hoped that Refsnyder could hold down the team’s second base job in the Majors, but he’s now split his time fairly equally between second, first base and left field in the Majors.
Crockett, 25, was a fourth-round pick back in 2013 and was the first player from that draft class to reach the Majors, debuting in 2014. While he turned in a promising 1.80 ERA with 8.4 K/9 against 2.4 BB/9 in 30 innings that season, he’s struggled to a 4.84 ERA with 8.7 K/9 against 3.8 BB/9 in 35 1/3 big league innings since then. To his credit, Crockett has allowed just a minuscule three homers in 65 1/3 MLB innings and has held lefties to a .614 OPS in 167 plate appearances. Righties have knocked him around at a .280/.373/.452 clip, though.
Baker, 25, has scarcely pitched since the 2015 season due to injuries, including Tommy John surgery. The 2012 fifth-rounder has tossed just 21 1/3 innings across three levels in the past three minor league seasons combined, though he’s posted a 3.58 ERA in 241 2/3 innings in his minor league career when healthy.
Chang (No. 4), Castro (No. 9) and Merryweather (No. 12) each ranked within the Indians’ top 30 prospects, according to Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com.
Behold the Indians are now in possession of the most powerful trade chip in the world. Rob Refsnyder
Marlins trade Stanton for Refsnyder, eat 40% of Stanton’s salary.
He was at the top of Yankee fans trade offers on here for quite a while.
The legend of Rob Refsnyder continues.
Him and Peter O’ Brien going Head to Head right now to see who finishes his career with greater MLBTR infamy.
Future HOFer Rob Refsnyder?!
Free agent predection contest coming soon?
Nicely done, WalkersDayOff and baseballpun.
Ryan Raburn is a poor man’s Ryan Raburn.
Ryan Raburn is Ryan Raburn’s Ryan Raburn
Gene Rayburn hosted The Match Game. He is not Ryan Raburn’s great grandfather.
Peter Marshall hosted Hollywood Squares. Paul Lynde was disappointed that Peter had changed his name for the stage. His son Pete LaCock played for the Cubs and Royals in the 70s.
Apologies for robbing you of context by deleting my earlier “Refsnyder’s a poor man’s Ryan Rayburn” comment.
Very good Refsnyder and Rayburn riffs, everyone.
Ah Rob Refsnyder the biggest baseball meme in 2017
Cool, Cleveland claimed a utility role they already have too many players to squeeze into…
Yeah, I’m confused as to why they claimed Refsnyder (who has no role with the Tribe at the MLB level unless there are a lot of injuries) instead of rostering Kaminsky.
Rob Refsnyder for Mike Trout. the only problem is that this is an extremely lopsided trade
OMG now the indians have what it to deal for thier choice of Chris Sale Kyle schwarber Stanton Sonny Gray Yonder Alonso Brian Dozier Ian Kinsler Aroldis Chapman Andrew Miller and I heard they could even get Mike trout if they packaged him with Jacoby ellesbury! did I miss anyone?
It’s a definite head scratcher. Refsnyder can’t seem to play defence anywhere. His only value to the Jays was as a left-handed bat who could pass a physical.
I hope he has a nice career, but…what’s the allure?
Yes! Glad Refsnyder is gone from the Jays. I wish him well. Hopefully he can find it elsewhere in the majors.. By his performance in 2017, he didn’t belong at the MLB level and the Jays had no business keeping him on the roster. Waist of time, money and bench space. Makes you shake your head wondering why a team would trade for him. Taking a flyer I guess. Why would Cleveland want this guy? Yeeesh.
The only logic I can see to CLE claiming Refsnyder is that they may intend to trade Kipnis this winter, and Refsnyder would be an infield depth piece. Tribe would be wise to deal Kipnis since he really has no position at the moment, and they’d like to clear out his salary to give them more payroll flexibility this winter.
They have Diaz, Urshela and Gonzalez for IF depth. Kip is has a position, he’ll be the starting 2B next year unless they get a deal they can’t refuse for their extra C and SPs.