Red Sox Notes Refsnyder Whitlock Pivett

Back in August, Red Sox outfielder about whether he wanted to continue his playing career in 2025 or begin working towards his post-playing goal of moving into a front office role somewhere in the sport. reported this evening, however, that Refsnyder now appears to have made up his mind to continue playing in 2025. Ill be 34 in spring training. I could see myself playing for a couple more years honestly, if the situation is right, Refsnyder said, as relayed by Cotillo. Especially if Im here. Refsnyder has made his desire to remain in Boston abundantly clear, and it seems all but certain his wish will be granted at least for next season. The Red Sox hold a $2MM club option of the 33-year-old for next year, a bargain price considering his excellent production with the club this season. In 307 trips to the plate acro s 93 games played this year, Refsnyder has slashed an excellent .283/.359/.471 (130 wRC+) in his part time role as a backup outfielder and platoon bat against left-handed pitching. Overall, Refsnyder has posted a solid .278/.367/.427 slash line (121 wRC+) with 18 homers and 10 steals in 727 plate appearances since he first donned a Red Sox uniform back in 2022. Refsnyders likely return will place him in the midst of what is sure to be a very crowded Fred Lynn Jersey outfield mix next season. While figures to become a free agent this winter, and both appear poised to return to the club. Meanwhile, has split time between the outfield and infield this year but is best suited to playing center field, where he excels defensively. That leaves the club with a full outfield before even considering the fact that top prospect is banging on the door to the majors and figures to be ready for big league action as soon as early 2025, and its even po sible that the club could look to re-sign ONeill or a similarly capable right-handed slugger this winter. The DH offers little help in breaking up the logjam in Boston either due to the presence of , who remains under contract through the end of the 2027 season. Given the glut of outfield talent available to the Red Sox for the moment, it would hardly be a shock to see the club pursue a trade this winter, perhaps leveraging that outfield depth in order to bolster the clubs pitching staff. The rotation in Boston has been quite good with a 3.77 ERA that ranks top five in the majors this year, but a bullpen that posted a lackluster 4.44 ERA this year and figures to lose both and in free agency is an obvious place for potential improvement. With that being said, its also po sible the bullpen could get some internal reinforcements headed into next year. Right-hander underwent an internal brace surgery on his right elbow back in May and has been working his way back to the mound ever since, with that he threw a baseball for the first time since going under the knife recently. As Whitlock works his way back in hopes of a healthier 2025 season, Cotillo notes that after years of both the righty and the Red Sox believing he was a long-term rotation piece for the club, Whitlock is now more focused on staying healthy. Honestly, Ive told them, whatever can keep me healthy (is the best role), Whitlock said yesterday, as relayed by Cotillo. Thats where Im at. Were going to dive in with medical and see where that goes. If Boston bra s and Whitlock believe that a move to the bullpen could help keep the righty healthier going forward, that would add a potential high-leverage arm to the clubs mix that could help them to make up for the impending lo ses of Jansen and Martin. The right-hander sports a strong 3.39 ERA overall for his career, but that figure plummets to a sparkling 2.65 when looking only at his 132 2/3 innings of work out of the bullpen. Combined with his 28.1% career strikeout rate out of the bullpen, its easy to imagine Whitlock becoming one of the games most fearsome relievers if he fully committed to the role. A move to the bullpen for Whitlock would leave the club with a hole in the rotation, however, and that would only be further exacerbated by the impending departure of veteran righty . Its been a solid year for the 31-year-old hurler, as hes posted a 4.14 ERA with a 4.06 FIP in 145 2/3 innings of work that should make him an attractive option for clubs in need of help towards the back of their rotation this winter. Thats a description that fits the Red Sox, who currently have only , , and penciled into their rotation. figures to return from elbow surgery at some point next year, and the club has solid depth options like , , and available as well, but theres plenty of room in the clubs starting mix another addition. Even so, its unclear if a return to Boston is in the cards for Pivetta next year. The right-hander told recently that there have been no talks between he and the front office about extending their relationship beyond this season, though he did expre s an openne s to returning to Boston next year. With that being said, after a disappointing season thats seen the club finish in the vicinity of .500, its po sible that the club could look to improve its rotation by signing a more impactful free agent than Pivetta. Former Red Sox hurler and left-hander are among the mid-rotation arms that figure to be available this winter who would likely represent an upgrade over Pivetta for Boston. Gregory Soto Jersey