Again in August, Pink Sox outfielder Rob Refsnyder appeared unsure about whether or not he wished to proceed his taking part in profession in 2025 or start working in the direction of his post-playing purpose of transferring right into a entrance workplace function someplace within the sport. MassLive’s Chris Cotillo reported this night, nonetheless, that Refsnyder now seems to have made up his thoughts to proceed taking part in in 2025.
“I’ll be 34 in spring coaching. I might see myself taking part in for a pair extra years actually, if the scenario is true,” Refsnyder stated, as relayed by Cotillo. “Particularly if I’m right here.”
Refsnyder has made his need to stay in Boston abundantly clear, and it appears all however sure his want will probably be granted at the least for subsequent season. The Pink Sox maintain a $2MM membership choice of the 33-year-old for subsequent yr, a discount value contemplating his glorious manufacturing with the membership this season. In 307 journeys to the plate throughout 93 video games performed this yr, Refsnyder has slashed a wonderful .283/.359/.471 (130 wRC+) in his half time function as a backup outfielder and platoon bat towards left-handed pitching. General, Refsnyder has posted a strong .278/.367/.427 slash line (121 wRC+) with 18 homers and 10 steals in 727 plate appearances since he first donned a Pink Sox uniform again in 2022.
Refsnyder’s possible return will place him within the midst of what’s certain to be a really crowded outfield combine subsequent season. Whereas Tyler O’Neill figures to turn out to be a free agent this winter, Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu each seem poised to return to the membership. In the meantime, Ceddanne Rafaela has break up time between the outfield and infield this yr however is finest suited to taking part in middle area, the place he excels defensively. That leaves the membership with a full outfield earlier than even contemplating the truth that prime prospect Roman Anthony is banging on the door to the majors and figures to be prepared for giant league motion as quickly as early 2025, and it’s even doable that the membership might look to re-sign O’Neill or a equally succesful right-handed slugger this winter. The DH affords little assist in breaking apart the logjam in Boston both as a result of presence of Masataka Yoshida, who stays underneath contract by means of the tip of the 2027 season.
Given the glut of outfield expertise out there to the Pink Sox for the second, it will hardly be a shock to see the membership pursue a commerce this winter, maybe leveraging that outfield depth in an effort to bolster the membership’s pitching workers. The rotation in Boston has been fairly good with a 3.77 ERA that ranks prime 5 within the majors this yr, however a bullpen that posted a lackluster 4.44 ERA this yr and figures to lose each Kenley Jansen and Chris Martin in free company is an apparent place for potential enchancment. With that being stated, it’s additionally doable the bullpen might get some inside reinforcements headed into subsequent yr.
Proper-hander Garrett Whitlock underwent an inside brace surgical procedure on his proper elbow again in Could and has been working his method again to the mound ever since, with Cotillo amongst these to notice that he threw a baseball for the primary time since going underneath the knife not too long ago. As Whitlock works his method again in hopes of a more healthy 2025 season, Cotillo notes that after years of each the righty and the Pink Sox believing he was a long-term rotation piece for the membership, Whitlock is now extra targeted on staying wholesome.
“Actually, I’ve informed them, no matter can preserve me wholesome (is the perfect function),” Whitlock stated yesterday, as relayed by Cotillo. “That’s the place I’m at. We’re going to dive in with medical and see the place that goes.”
If Boston brass and Whitlock imagine {that a} transfer to the bullpen might assist preserve the righty more healthy going ahead, that may add a possible high-leverage arm to the membership’s combine that might assist them to make up for the approaching losses of Jansen and Martin. The correct-hander sports activities a robust 3.39 ERA total for his profession, however that determine plummets to a glowing 2.65 when wanting solely at his 132 2/3 innings of labor out of the bullpen. Mixed along with his 28.1% profession strikeout charge out of the bullpen, it’s simple to think about Whitlock turning into one of many recreation’s most fearsome relievers if he totally dedicated to the function.
A transfer to the bullpen for Whitlock would depart the membership with a gap within the rotation, nonetheless, and that may solely be additional exacerbated by the approaching departure of veteran righty Nick Pivetta. It’s been a strong yr for the 31-year-old hurler, as he’s posted a 4.14 ERA with a 4.06 FIP in 145 2/3 innings of labor that ought to make him a gorgeous choice for golf equipment in want of assist in the direction of the again of their rotation this winter. That’s an outline that matches the Pink Sox, who presently have solely Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, and Brayan Bello penciled into their rotation. Lucas Giolito figures to return from elbow surgical procedure in some unspecified time in the future subsequent yr, and the membership has strong depth choices like Quinn Priester, Richard Fitts, and Cooper Criswell out there as properly, however there’s loads of room within the membership’s beginning combine one other addition.
Even so, it’s unclear if a return to Boston is within the playing cards for Pivetta subsequent yr. The correct-hander informed Alex Speier of the Boston Globe not too long ago that there have been no talks between he and the entrance workplace about extending their relationship past this season, although he did categorical an openness to returning to Boston subsequent yr. With that being stated, after a disappointing season that’s seen the membership end within the neighborhood of .500, it’s doable that the membership might look to enhance its rotation by signing a extra impactful free agent than Pivetta. Former Pink Sox hurler Nathan Eovaldi and left-hander Sean Manaea are among the many mid-rotation arms that determine to be out there this winter who would possible characterize an improve over Pivetta for Boston.
