The Mariners announced the signing of outfielder Rob Refsnyder to a one-year contract. It’s reportedly a $6.25M deal with another $250K available in incentives for the PSI Sports Management client. Seattle’s 40-man roster is now at capacity.
Refsnyder adds a potent right-handed platoon bat to Dan Wilson’s outfield. He has teed off on left-handed pitching as a member of the Red Sox. Refsnyder carries a .312/.407/.516 batting line with 19 home runs, 28 doubles, and one triple across 509 plate appearances with the platoon advantage over the past four seasons. He has a middling .235/.315/.355 slash in 435 trips to the dish against right-handers in that stretch.
It’s a limited profile, but few players are better in that role. Among hitters with 400+ PAs against southpaws going back to 2022, only Aaron Judge and Paul Goldschmidt have a better on-base percentage. Refsnyder is sixth in batting average and 16th in slugging. He’s seventh in OPS — trailing Judge, Yordan Alvarez, Goldschmidt, Yandy Díaz, Jose Altuve and Ketel Marte.
That production has earned Refsnyder some decent earnings in the back half of his career. He was a journeyman minor league signee when the Sox added him over the 2021-22 offseason. Boston was the sixth team to give him some big league time when they called him up midway through June the following year. Refsnyder hit well enough to earn a little over $5MM on a pair of contracts covering the 2023-25 campaigns. He now secures his most significant payday for his age-35 season. Refsnyder is coming off a .269/.354/.484 showing in 70 games and had been a highly regarded clubhouse presence in Boston.
Refsnyder came up as an infielder in the Yankees system. He has been a full-time outfielder since 2020 and has been exclusively in the corners over the past two seasons. He could probably handle first base if the M’s wanted to give Josh Naylor an occasional breather against a tough left-handed opponent. Most of his work will come in right field and/or at designated hitter. Seattle has Randy Arozarena locked into left field, while righty-swinging Victor Robles should get a decent amount of right field playing time. Lefty hitters Luke Raley and Dominic Canzone could see time out there and are currently lined up for the bulk of the DH at-bats.
The signing pushes Seattle’s projected payroll to $157MM, as calculated by RosterResource. President of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said at the beginning of the offseason that the M’s were likely to open next season with a payroll close to this year’s season-ending mark around $166MM. The M’s don’t have a ton of glaring needs but could look for a multi-positional infielder who could provide a higher floor than Cole Young, Ryan Bliss, Ben Williamson and potentially top prospect Colt Emerson at second and third base.
Chris Cotillo of MassLive reported the $6.25MM base and $250K in incentives. Images courtesy of Mark Rebilas, Imagn Images.
Later Ref… class guy. And a monster vs LHP.
We’ll miss ya
Wow I thought he was definitely going back to Boston. I guess getting Wilson hurt those chances
He didn’t really have the clearest spot.
Willson had nothing to do with it..they have 5 healthy outfielders ahead of him currently on the mlb roster..duran,abreau,rafaela,Anthony and Yoshida with Campbell and others waiting..they signed him for 2025 mid 24…when several of those guys weren’t even in the conversation…alot has changed..if anything romy took his job as designated lefty masher
+Eaton who played a lot at the end of last year and may fill a similar need
+Romy who could get more playing time at DH/OF this year with the addition of Contreras
I have a hard time connecting the words healthy outfielder with yoshida, and im fairly certain yoshida slots below refsnyder on an OF depth chart.
Its job security via a bloated excessive contract, not merit
@GASoxFan
The poor guy has had a single injury which he played through all of 2024 which lead to him (through uncontrollable circumstances) missing the first half of 2025. He was never an 18mil/yr outfielder, but the single injury has given many a sour impression.
Im all for a player taking every dollar a buffoon is foolish enough to grossly overpay for him, but, I think he better be prepared for the heat that comes with not living up to the contract
Yoshida is probably barely aware of the heat. He’s not scrolling MLBtraderumors right now, I imagine.
While unlikely yoshida is hanging on the words floating around MLBTR, when you consider the massive media attention that contract he hasn’t lived up to gets across all various forms of media, and, reception that will come from fans at games, im sure he’s not completely unaware of any heat.
He’s 35 now, man I feel old. Feels like he was a prospect just yesterday.
Roman and Duran can hit lefties and Abreu did much better against them last season so the pure platoons don’t seem as necessary. Contreras and Romy will definitely be in the lineup against Lefties, Campbell too if he’s on the roster
@Rsox I think it’s more fair to said ‘Roman and Duran play against lefties’.
Duran has always been very bad vs lefties (70 wRC+) but last year he was awful (61 wRC+).
I’m sure Roman will figure it out, but he struck out 38.8% of the time last season.
Cora has been pretty clear that he wants to play Abreu more against lefties. His 85 wRC+ last year was a big improvement as you mentioned.
Rsox – Ehhhhh not to be a contrerasan, but Duran had a .260 OBP and .600 OPS against LHP this year.
@mlbnyyfan- Yeah it’s funny, I thought he could sign with the Yankees. He’s murders left handers. I’m ok, with Harrison Bader if we lose Belli or don’t sign Tucker. Bader comes along with his very own walking boot.
Let’s not go to Bader again. I’d rather give Jasson and Jones a shot in left with Grish in center.
Love it.
I’ve always liked Ref. It’s amazing how much he struggled to find his way until he landed in Boston and became a solid hitter. Good luck to him.
Mostly it was funny watching Boston fans suddenly having to embrace him. That’s why I never crap on another team’s prospects.
Was never about crapping on him, we were making fun of how absurdly Yankees fans overrate their prospects and acted like every one of them was the next Mantle or something.
Happy that Ref has carved out a nice career for himself. Loved having him in Boston, best of luck to him in the PNW!
I know what it’s about DirtyWater but in order to make fun of the fans, y’all were crapping on Ref. FWIW it’s never really bother me any.
As a Yankees fan I can assure you that over valuing our prospects was a result of Brian Cashman. This is the guy that wouldn’t trade for Cliff Lee because he didn’t want to part with Edwardo Nunez.
Now that we have experienced this for several years, most of us no longer drink the Cashman kool-aid.
The guy holds on to prospects way too long, doesn’t trade them for impact players, and then lets them go after all of their value has diminished.
Jerry, stop with the shenanigans and bring Marte home
Marte is a pipedream.
Probably. But it’s Christmas time, where hopes and dreams are supposed to come to reality.
RR is money against Lefties, the current M’s lineup needed help hitting Lefties due to the amount of LH batters. This is a savvy signing imo
It is since we need guys that can hit off of skubal or crochet
It is a little risky since he is 35 and 6 million is a lot of money for Seattle but he seems better than Donovan Solano
Imo he’s a better fit than Solano, Tellez, Mastrobouni and D-Mo. 4 players who played a lot of baseball in April and May of last year. It is what it is- he’s a 4th OF type platoon bat with a .959 OPS v LHP last yr. I don’t think he’s meant to be the replacement for Polanco’s 2025 production. Maybe he’s what they thought they’d get from Garver? Speaking of …..
That $6M is half of what the club gave to Mitch Garver annually.
Its not exactly a FA hitters bonanza this year, there’s slim pickings
Pollock 2.0!
Kidding. Interestingly enough, Seattle announced the signing, listing him as an outfielder/first baseman.
He hasn’t played first since 2020, but I would imagine he’s more likely to DH and pinch hit.
No, not Rob!
Love you Ref, happy you got paid a nice chunk of change!!! 🙂
Low key good addition
Noooooo!!! (literally only made an account to comment on this)
This guy knows ball and he’s a stud. But that’s a big chunk of change for a weak side platoon elder statesman.
Good luck to Ref. Lot’s of jokes about his former prospect pedigree but he was nothing but professional with the Sox.
Let’s go a lot of Rangers fans wanted him but I did not. Solid player
Perfect, a 1 year commitment to help cover 2nd if Cole doesn’t work out. Resign Geno for DH and part time 3rd and let Williamson and Emerson fight it out. Bring the rest of the top prospects up later this year and give Gilbert and woo extensions. If you can trade Castillo for a decent prospect, do so.
Refsnyder is soon to be 35 and hasn’t played 2B since 2017. Only covering 2nd he is doing is if he collapses there…
Yeah he’s no longer an infielder but his pop will be appreciated in Seattle. Good move
What pop?
Go read his baseball savant page. He hits the ball hard. Often. As a platoon guy. Hard-hit. Barrel %. And exit velo all 85-90 percentile. Plus he was pretty clutch in Boston for us.
A slugging % near .500. I’d consider that pop.
GTR – .312/.407/.516 batting line over the last four years vs lefties. He’s got the pop that the M’s need. Solid move.
He had a 468 foot bomb this past year. Some pop…
Garver had a decent career slg %, until he came to SEA
Great Add! Welcome, Sir!
Welcome to the AL West brawl!
Not really a brawl anymore as the Mariners own the Stros
Mariners when they play the Astros. Rangers, A’s, and Astros are still capable teams that can win.
It’s not like the Mariners are going to win the AL West by a wide margin. The Astros are still competitive, whether you like it or not.
Well the Astros will first need to build out their starting rotation, then we can talk. They have a #1 , and a #4, and and another #4, and and and…
They have No.1, who is better than anyone else in the Seattle rotation. I think Javier has No. 3, and a No.2 when healthy. Still,
No. 1 (Hunter Brown)-True No. 1
No. 2 (Cristian Javier)-No. 3
No.3 (Mike Burrows-No. 3 or 4
No. 4-(Spencer Arrighetti)-No. 3 or 4
No. 5-No 5
All are righty starters but we need lefty ones too. We also have too many left handed relievers. Offense needs help but maybe hittting coaches can help.
I think the Mariners have Hunter Brown’s number, don’t they? I think we beat him every time he started last season just like we beat Skubal four times.
Bravo Ignorant SOB!!!!!!! Bravo!!
I hope the Astros are banking on hitting coaches solving the issue.
2025?
He threw 3 starts and had one win of the three starts (the worst start). It was because our bullpen collapsed, offense collapsed. Mariners do good against top starters I will admit that.
It appears they are. They are hoping Victor Rodriguez and Anthony Iapoce can help them reduce the strikeouts and RISP numbers. It’s a pain to watch them with RISP. Also don’t forget about health. If we can get Alvarez healthy, we can have one of the best hitters in baseball. It’s increasingly important due to Cal Raleigh.
the last few years the Astros rotation has had a lot of guys with the words “when healthy” next to their names!
How many hurlers with Tommy John surgery for Houston? 6? 7? 8? 10?
Ronel Blanco, Hayden Wesneski, Brandon Walter, Luis Garcia.
Cristian Javier came off a recent TJ,
4 are currently recovering
Solid pickup.
Lots of people used to use his name as a joke, but he has carved out for himself a decent career as a major leaguer even if it has been that of a role player.
“More to come” feels like it refers to the article and the Mariners transactions. This move makes Robles redundant. A perfect platoon bat that would go with Canzone in RF and backup Arozarena and Rodriguez when they need days off.
Robles is a better outfielder than Canzone (or Raley), I don’t know about Refsnyder.
Robles is a righty. He wouldn’t platoon with another righty like Refsnyder.
Pretty great signing tbh. Guy deserves at minimum a platoon spot on a winning team. Hes been clutch and his pop hasn’t gone anywhere.
Good for him. Get paid!
Solid gritty player. Always liked Ref even when he was playing against my team. Good pickup for the M’s.
This surprises me. I thought he’d retire with the Red Sox.
This likely means Seattle’s preparing for platoons in RF and at DH with Raley, Robles, Canzone, and now Refsnyder.
I would have preferred Andujar because of his ability to fill in at third and first as well as the OF corners, but this is good, too.
Now, hopefully they can get Marte. I’d argue there’s room for an additional bat, but I certainly don’t expect two more.
One of the other three will go I’m betting. Too many to cycle through DH and RF since they us DH to give others a blow too.
They all fit at the moment, but it’s still hard for me to believe they’d carry two LHHs that have to be platooned. I’ve believed that Raley was the most likely to get the squeeze.
But if they get a second baseman, they could let Mastrobuoni go or option Rivas.
Stevil as far as I know, I believe Andujar was just too limited defensively to be viable anywhere but DH. Yes, he has played those positions in the past, but he is abysmal at them all.
Not talking about a regular role, I’m talking about insurance.
And I disagree about him being abysmal. Did you see Polanco at third?
Andujar played 3rd against the M’s this year and I thought that he looked fine.
Insurance that can’t play the position at an acceptable level for a Major Leaguer is no insurance at all!
Andujar is a butcher in the field.
Happy for Ref, Mariners are getting a quality individual
I am not happy about this but good luck to him.
Christmas Wishlist down to Marte, Donovan; and Geno and then I will be a happy camper and leave Santa Claus something for his kindnesses.
That’s quite a list.
No team is trading for Marte, Donovan is a bench utility player, Genao has power and little else to offer.
That is a great signing by the Mariners.
the future HoF on the move again 😉
Pepperidge farm remembers when he was a future HoF’r / untouchable in Yankees trades LOL
He is always a lock to hit lefites and our left handed Outfield with Abreau and Duran both have an ops under 400 against lefties. Not getting some of these moves., why not protect against the good lefties with someone like ref.. So on the roster now are 4 lefty outfielders along with cedaenne.
With far more versatility than Refsnyder, Romy and Eaton are both righties and will be playing the OF in 2026. Plus, at $2M last year Ref was a steal, but one year older and now costing $6.25M . . . Good luck Ref, you were awesome in Boston, we’ll miss you.
I thought he could have had a starting job with full-time ABs but he signed with a winning club in a town with a good Asian community, good spot for Refsnyder and a winning addition for the Mariners.
Kind of like it when you don’t see moves like this coming. Makes sense. Makes more sense if you go and get B. Donovan and a RH Relief pitcher. But I wonder if the asking price in prospects is too much for Donovan and it is too much cash $$ for Martre and they pivot to Willy Castro. Hope not. Need a better bat.
It’s going to cost even more in prospects for Marte as well as the dollars being more. It sounds like they are asking for the moon for Marte. I’ll be surprised if he is moved this off-season.
“I’ll be surprised if he is moved this off-season.”
Some time in April his Ten and Five No Trade Rights kicks in, so if he’s not moved by then, it becomes a lot tougher for AZ. — My guess is AZ drops the price between now and then to facilitate a deal, but probably not to Red Sox.
Great signing for them. M’s could use a good RH bat against lefties to replace the Mitch Garver sort of role.
Donovan or Hoerner and one more reliever would be a nice cherry on top for the offseason
Going to miss this guy in a Red Sox uniform. Great hitter, great leader. Definitely future coach material. Have a great time on the west coast, Ref. You’re always welcome back in Boston!
Our bullpen is cooked
9th inning-LHP Josh Hader
8th inning-RHP Bryan Abreu
7th inning-LHP Bryan King
Middle Relief
LHP Bennett Sousa
RHP Kaleb Ort
LHP Steven Okert
These are names that stood with us all year (Hader, Sousa, Ort went down w/ elbow inflammation that cost a few wins)
Bullpen success is a function of the rotation covering innings. Wasn’t possible last year with all the injuries. The bullpen will improve with rotation health.
Similar to the Solano pickup last year but Solano was older and wasn’t really a lefty-killer. Refsnyder does kill lefties. Our lineup suddenly looks a LOT better against left-handed starting pitching. Just hope you have a pinch hitter available if a right-hander comes in for a high-leverage situation.
I wish him well in Seattle. I loved seeing him vs Lefties. Will miss him in Boston
Nothing says retirement like moving across the entire country.
If he doesn’t decline hard awesome weak platoon.
Surprising. I thought he’d stay with Boston where they’d finally reward him for three years of fantastic splits for next to nothing in pay. This 6 million is more than he was paid these last 3 years. Ruff ruff, Ref!
Love Ref. a pro’s pro!
I hoped he’d stay in Boston and become a coach.
maybe he’ll become a coach down the road- but will be a solid mentor in Seattle.
I like it. Only heard his name on a podcast this morning and it solidifies the bench, plus allows for an outfield or DH platoon. Looks like a bench of Knizner, Refsnyder, Rivas, and Raley. It also looks like whoever doesn’t start among Williamson, Young, Emerson, and Bliss will be in Tacoma (which is probably a bad idea for Young, whose trade value peaked last year), assuming that there is no trade forthcoming for Donavan or Marte.
$6.25M is starting OF money in Pitt, Cin, etc. The cost of weak side platoons is crazy these days. He deserves it, but wow
Red Sox still have too many OF.
VS Lefty
Robles
Julio
Cal
Refsnyder
Randy
Naylor
Ben Williamson
Rivas
JP
Vs Righty
Randy
Naylor
Cal
Julio
Raley
Canzone
JP
Colt
Cole
It could happen.
But Cal would have to play every inning at catcher, which might be a problem!
Why platoon Colt?
I imagine they won’t.
If Colt starts in the majors, Williamson may be back in Tacoma, focusing on being able to backup 2b and even SS while also working on the power stroke.
I don’t know what happens with Rivas, Mastrobuoni, or Bliss. I think Bliss may have already lost his best shot to injury.
“That production has earned Refsnyder some decent earnings in the back half of his career”??
Define “decent earnings”?
this contract will pay him more than the last 4 tears combined
Finally a nice pickup for the Ms, too bad he’s 34.
As a Mariners fan I’m excited!
Total professional, excellent clubhouse guy, lefty killer, clutch performer, excellent OFer, sold player.
Congrats Seattle you’re getting a solid guy. Good luck Rob, thanks from us Boston fans.
What more could you ask for? Love it!
This is a pleasant surprise, the lack of impact vs. LHPs was exposed in the playoffs, especially in RF. Not quite sure what it means for the rest of the RF/DH mix going forward (one of Robles/Raley/Canzone might be the odd man out), especially when/if they add someone who can play the infield and help bridge the rookie trio of Young/Emerson/Williamson, but this is a good problem to have to solve for the Mariners. I can’t remember the last time they had a roster this deep, where even the low end of the bench provided good production.
This guy had rave reviews as a prospect, almost as much as Peter O’Brien.
They trade Ref and not Yoshida. What a clown show. One of their only potent platoon bats against left handers. Incredible. Ref will suck there because baseball and they’ll be seen as smart for the move. What a middle finger to your fan base and to Ref. Talk about a controlled demolition.
Refsnyder was a free agent, and nobody wants Yoshida. Also, if winning 89 games and making the playoffs is such a clown show, I’d take that circus over whatever the hell Pittsburgh, Miami, Colorado, Anaheim, and southern Chicago have been doing for y e a r s.
Come on, FF… No one wants to take on the remaining $36 million on Yoshida’s contract. That deal (5 years, $90 million plus a $15 million posting fee) has obviously not worked out for Boston. Today, on the open market, he probably doesn’t get what Ref just got from Seattle. The Red Sox are stuck with him for two more years.
With what Boston has right now, they should win 90 games this season… and they are not done. Be patient. There is plenty of time before OD.
He will be missed by Red Sox players as well as the Sox fans.
I really wanted the Braves to get him to platoon with yaz
M’s should sign Bo Bichette to play 2B. Sign Tatsuya Imai for $15M and trade Castillo to the Padres for Ramon Laureano and change.
Nice late contract for Mr Ref! He always gives 110% & can drive the ball… Looks like no room for Suarez in the budget, and Donovan’s getting farther & farther away. The Cards overplayed their hand and may just have to hold onto the versatile hitter. I still don’t see the M’s breaking up that rotation until their forced to…
No way they break up the rotation for Donovan. If the Cardinals can’t take prospects, and reasonable ones, he can be someone else’s overpay. I think theres a case to overpay for him for thr Mariners, but not if it takes dipping into the current rotation or prospect cost is ridiculous. It’s getting late in the year for budget shenanigans and still need bullpen help so I am not expecting big moves.
I have a hunch Dipoto is gonna:
1. land Donovan and platoon him with Ref in RF. Which means Robles, Canzone, and Raley would then be trade bait.
2. And he’s gonna pony up a package for Marte….headlining Evans & Young as the core in the package and other lower prospects
3. With all the above don’t rule out Geno taking a major 1 year discount to come back to Seattle to be the main DH. With no Polanco Geno would DH most of the time NOT blocking Emerson at 3B or Williamson
1B Naylor
CF Julio
2B Marte
C Raleigh
RF Ref/Donovan
LF Arozerena
DH Geno
SS JP
3B Emerson/Williamson
Castillo
Woo
Gilbert
Kirby
Kane LHP / Evans or Miller
Pipe dream? I got a strong feeling Dipoto will have the approval to do this! But that lineup is a pitchers nightmare!!!
I don’t think so. I could see a trade of Robles for Donovan. Then Refsynder could be paired with Canzone in RF. At 3B I would go ahead and bring Geno back. Have him play DH most of the time in a platoon with Luke Raley.