Mariners add an interesting bat to the mix
Rob Refsnyder becoming a Mariner improves the roster.
Perhaps to some, the Mariners signing veteran Rob Refsnyder to a one-year deal today isn’t big news. But hey, the Hot Stove has cooled for Seattle lately. So, let’s consider what adding Refsnyder may mean for the team in 2026.
Selling points: As Daniel Kramer of MLB noted, Refsnyder has been extremely productive against left-handed pitching over the past four seasons with the Red Sox. During this span, the Arizona alum was top-5 in AVG, OBP, and wRC+ among right-handed hitters with 500-plus plate appearances versus southpaws.
To add a Seattle component to Refsnyder’s impressive numbers, I devised a novel comparison. The newest Mariner versus Jorge Polanco, who is now a Met. It turns out Refsnyder’s stat line holds up very well compared to Polanco’s.
Just to be clear. In no way am I suggesting Refsnyder will be a plug-and-play replacement for the switch-hitting Polanco. Still, his platoon success suggests he could at least partially mitigate the loss of Polanco’s recent productivity versus lefty pitching.
Refsnyder made loud, quality contact on a regular basis. This year, 348 players had at least 200 plate appearances. Just 20 had a higher hard-hit rate than the Korean product did. Furthermore, his career-high 12.3-percent barrel rate ranked 73rd, tying him with Bryce Harper and Kerry Carpenter.
Potential concerns: Refsnyder missed two weeks in August with an oblique strain. This was his eighth trip to the injured list in the last five seasons.
Refsnyder IL Stints Since 2021
Jun 2021 - Concussion (7 days)
Jun 2021 - Hamstring strain (52 days)
Sep 2021 - Elbow impingement (17 days)
Jul 2022 - Sprained MCL (17 days)
Oct 2022 - Lower back spasms (3 days*)
Mar 2024 - Toe fracture (24 days)
Sep 2024 - Forearm strain (11 days*)
Aug 2025 - Oblique strain (13 days)
* Finished season on IL
Source: Baseball Prospectus
Am I suggesting Refsnyder is fragile? Not at all. But his recent injury history is worth mentioning considering his 35th birthday is Opening Day. As the Rolling Stones once said, “time waits for no one.”
From a defensive perspective, Statcast rates Refsnyder’s range in left field as below average over the past three years. During this period, the 5th round pick of the Yankees in 2012 accrued minus-6 outs above average (OAA), which ranked 45th among 65 players with at least 150 attempts in left field.
This may not necessarily be a concern. But we should at least consider Refsnyder’s recent defensive experience. Even though his résumé lists multiple positions played through the years, he’s been an outfielder since the beginning of the 2021 season.
Based on the team’s announcement today, it intends on using Refsnyder in the outfield and as an alternative to first baseman Josh Naylor. But it’s a position he hasn’t played in a big-league game in over five years.
More fuel for thought: Refsnyder’s history at T-Mobile Park - he barely has any. Since making his MLB debut in 2015, the graduate of Laguna Hills High School has played in seven games in the Emerald City. Just four in four seasons with Boston.
Thoughts: Refsnyder’s presence should raise the floor of the Mariners’ bench. This matters over the course of an arduous 162-game season and, perhaps, a deep run in the playoffs.
As for the defense, perhaps playing left field with the Green Monster behind him somehow factored into Refsnyder’s diminished left field metrics. Moreover, reacclimating to first base seems doable based on his background and the fact the Mariners have infield guru Perry Hill available to assist.
Still, the Mariners didn’t sign Refsnyder for his defensive acumen. Instead, his main mission will be to crush southpaw pitching. If he can deliver in that respect, the team made a great move today.
My Oh My…
$6.5 mil seems steep for a bench guy and to hit only left handed pitching