Red Sox News: Rob Refsnyder option, Silver Slugger finalists, MiLB free agents

Veteran outfielder Rob Refsnyder was one of the Boston Red Sox's most surprising breakout players in 2024.

Yet, the 33-year-old shared in the middle of the season that he debated retiring at the conclusion of the campaign. Refsndyer later reconsidered and said he'd be willing to play another season, and Boston capitalized by accepting the club option on his contract on Nov. 4.

Refsnyder posted a career-high 93 games in 2024 after he reached his previous career-high of 89 in 2023. Not only did the Red Sox desperately need his expertise at hitting left-handed pitching, but he became a critical veteran presence in their relatively inexperienced clubhouse. Refsnyder batted .283/.359/.471 with a .830 OPS, 16 doubles, a triple and 11 homers in 2024.

Red Sox exercise club option on breakout veteran Rob Refsndyer's contract

Refsnyder will make $2.1 million next season in the Sox's packed outfield. There's no telling who he'll be playing with because Boston is expected to make some trades this offseason, but if the current outfield alignment remains, Refsnyder, Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela and Masataka Yoshida are its outfield options for 2025. Top prospect Roman Anthony is also expected to be major-league-ready this season.

Rafael Devers and Jarren Duran named American League Silver Slugger finalists

Louisville Slugger on Nov. 4 announced the finalists for its Silver Slugger awards, and Rafael Devers and Jarren Duran have been nominated for their respective positions. This is Duran's first nomination, but Devers has two Silver Slugger victories from 2021 and 2023.

Devers slashed .272/.354/.516 with a .871 OPS in 138 games and Duran batted .285/.342/.492 with a .834 OPS in 160 games. The two Sox in the running are up against some stiff competition in their categories. Devers will have to beat out Alex Bregman and José Ramírez for the title, and Duran is in the same group as Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, Riley Greene and Anthony Santander.

A group of Red Sox minor leaguers have elected free agency

Bobby Dalbec's free agency made headlines in the Red Sox fan community, but many other Red Sox minor leaguers have also elected to test the open market this winter. Pitchers Brad Keller and Naoyuki Uwasawa are among them.

Keller and Uwasawa were signed as pitching depth options in 2024, but neither could stick it out in the big leagues. The righty Keller posted a 5.84 ERA in 24.2 innings with the Red Sox and a 2.91 ERA over 52.2 innings, mostly as a starter, with the WooSox. Uwasawa, also a right-hander, clocked a 2.25 ERA in four major-league innings and a 7.63 ERA over 59 frames in Triple-A.

Keller appeared frequently for Boston in 2024 and it will have to find other depth pitching options if he signs elsewhere for the coming season. The Sox may be in luck, though, with pitching prospects Richard Fitts, Quinn Priester and Hunter Dobbins all nearing MLB readiness. They could be well-suited to bullpen roles in their first season in the majors.

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