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Who Red Sox’ Alex Cora says ‘has a shot’ to take over Rob Refsnyder’s role (and talk on other jobs)
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- Who Red Sox’ Alex Cora says ‘has a shot’ to take over Rob Refsnyder’s role (and talk on other jobs)
BOSTON — Rob Refsnyder provided valuable production for the Red Sox as a right-handed hitting platoon outfielder the past four years.
The 34-year-old, who batted .302 with a .399 on-base percentage, .560 slugging percentage and .959 OPS in 138 plate appearances against lefties in 2025, left via free agency this offseason. He signed with the Mariners , receiving a one-year, $6.25 million contract.
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Right-handed hitting Nate Eaton seems like an obvious candidate to take Refsnyder’s role after he received a lot of playing time late in the season.
“He has a shot,” manager Alex Cora said at Fenway Fest on Saturday. “Good defender, good hitter, good athlete. He can do a lot of stuff on the field.”
Eaton appeared in 22 games (13 starts) in September. He also started Games 1 and 2 of the AL Wild Card Series against left-handed starters Max Fried and Carlos Rodón .
“He played a lot towards the end, not only against lefties,” Cora said. “He played against righties when we were a little bit banged up and Ref was banged up, too.”
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Cora also mentioned the possibility of right-handed hitting Romy Gonzalez playing some outfield this season. In his two seasons with the Red Sox , Gonzalez has made one start in the outfield. He logged a start in center field in 2024. He has made 11 starts (110 innings) in the outfield during his major league career.
Gonzalez made 41 starts at first base, 32 starts at second and one start at third base last year.
Cora said the “roster has changed,” as new addition Willson Contreras “is going to play every day” at first base.
“Romy is going to play second. Probably expand his role defensively. Getting back to playing the outfield a little bit,” Cora said. “We got to get him in at-bats. That’s the way I see it. You look at all the metrics, right? All the under-the-hood numbers, hit the ball hard and up there with the big boys. So he keeps getting better, which is the most important thing with him.”
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Gonzalez playing some outfield is being considered at this point. It’s not a definite.
“He did a few years ago in spring training,” Cora said. “Just throwing out there.”
Gonzalez jammed his shoulder diving during the final regular season series of the year against the Tigers.
“He was struggling health-wise towards the end. So keep him healthy is the most important thing. We’ll figure out the at-bats, but he’s a weapon off the bench. We know that he’s a good athlete, he’s a good hitter.”
Tristan Gray — a left-handed hitter — also has a chance to get some work as a utility player. Boston acquired him from the Rays for reliever Luis Guerrero in November . He’s played first base, second base and third base in the majors. But he has played some outfield in the minors.
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“I love the left side of the infield whether it be short or third,” he said. “I actually took a liking to second this past year so I think I can play all of them pretty decently.
“I’ll go out into the outfield if they ask me to,” he added.
Refsnyder is a significant loss not only against left-handed pitching but leadership in the clubhouse.
“Obviously Ref’s a great friend of mine and obviously want to play with him forever, but the business side of it is the business side, and sometimes things work out, sometimes they don’t,” Trevor Story said. “I’m happy for him because he got an amazing deal with Seattle and they’re a great team. So he’s got a good chance to win. I think that’s what he’s chasing at this point.”
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