SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners made a decisive move Monday that could quietly reshape their 2025 lineup, agreeing to a one-year, $6.25 million contract with veteran outfielder Rob Refsnyder, according to multiple reports. While not a headline-grabbing blockbuster, the signing sends a clear message: the Mariners are targeting efficiency, matchup dominance, and depth as they push closer to true contention.
Refsynder, who turns 35 in March, joins Seattle after four productive seasons with the Boston Red Sox, where he carved out a reputation as one of Major League Baseball’s most reliable hitters against left-handed pitching. In just 70 games last season, he hit .269 with nine home runs, 30 RBIs, and an impressive .838 OPS across 209 plate appearances—numbers that only reinforce why Seattle moved quickly.
“Rob has been one of the most productive hitters against left-handed pitching over the last four seasons and provides balance and impact offensively to our lineup,” Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said in a team-issued statement announcing the deal.
With the Mariners, Refsnyder is expected to see most of his action as a designated hitter against left-handed pitching, a role tailor-made for his strengths. He also gives Seattle flexibility in the corner outfield spots and could even provide occasional coverage at first base, potentially spelling Josh Naylor over the long season.
The numbers explain the confidence. Refsnyder has batted over .300 against left-handed pitching in five consecutive seasons, a level of consistency few players can match. For a Mariners team that often struggled to capitalize on favorable matchups, that skill set carries significant value.
Refsynder’s career spans 10 major league seasons, during which he has played for the Yankees, Blue Jays, Rays, Rangers, Twins, and Red Sox. He owns a career .255 batting average, 33 home runs, and a .730 OPS—not eye-popping totals, but steady production built on adaptability and professionalism.
Beyond the analytics, Refsnyder made it clear this move is deeply personal.
“Seattle gave me an opportunity, and I’m here to take it with everything I have,” Refsnyder said during an informal media availability. “At this stage of my career, I’m not looking for promises or titles. I’m looking for a place that believes I still have value—and the Mariners gave me that feeling from the very first call.”
Those words resonate inside an organization still chasing unfinished business. Seattle came within one win of its first World Series appearance last season, a near-miss that has defined the urgency of this offseason.
Born in South Korea, Refsnyder’s baseball journey has long been defined by resilience. He was the Most Outstanding Player of the 2012 College World Series, helping the University of Arizona capture the NCAA championship. More than a decade later, he remains relevant by embracing roles others shy away from—platoons, late-game matchups, and situational at-bats.
That mindset aligns with a Mariners front office increasingly focused on marginal gains rather than marquee spending.
The signing comes amid major roster shifts involving former Mariners players. Most notably, Jorge Polanco officially began his next chapter with the New York Mets, agreeing to a two-year, $40 million contract and preparing to transition primarily to first base.
Polanco is expected to replace longtime Mets star Pete Alonso, who departed New York in free agency for a stunning five-year, $155 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles. The contrast is striking: while Polanco adapts to a new position after spending most of his career at shortstop and second base, Refsnyder steps into a clearly defined role in Seattle—one designed to maximize what he already does best.
Last season, Polanco hit .265 with 26 home runs, 78 RBIs, and an .821 OPS for the Mariners, serving mostly as a designated hitter. His departure and Refsnyder’s arrival reflect Seattle’s evolving roster philosophy.
In an offseason dominated by massive contracts and star-driven headlines, the Mariners’ decision to sign Refsnyder stands out for its precision rather than its flash. This is a move built for close games, late innings, and playoff-caliber matchups.
It may not dominate talk shows—but inside the Mariners’ clubhouse, it’s the kind of signing that signals intent.
Seattle isn’t chasing noise.
They’re chasing wins—and Rob Refsnyder just became part of that plan.
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