It appears as though a former Boston Red Sox fan favorite is calling it a career and retiring from Major League Baseball action.
Earlier in the week, former Red Sox All-Star reliever and 2018 World Series champion Matt Barnes announced that he's hanging up his cleats. He's not the only former Red Sox fan favorite hanging them up, though. Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reported that the Houston Astros were close to a deal with veteran outfielder Rob Refsnyder , but he opted to retire instead.
"They were close with Refsnyder but I heard he retired instead," McTaggart wrote on X.
Jul 28, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Seattle Mariners designated hitter Rob Refsnyder (30) reacts after hitting a two-run home run during the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Refsnyder had the most success of his big-league career as a member of the Red Sox over the last four seasons. This past offseason, he joined the Seattle Mariners in free agency on a one-year, $6.25 million deal but things didn't work out.
Refsnyder played in just 53 games and slashed .140/.211/.254 with a .465 OPS, four home runs and 11 RBIs. This is a far cry off from what he was doing in Boston. In 2025, he slashed .269/.354/.484 with an .838 OPS, nine home runs and 30 RBIs. In 2024, he slashed .283/.359/.471 with an .830 OPS, 11 home runs and 40 RBIs in 93 games played.
As a member of the Red Sox, Refsnyder became a lefty killer and a consistent bat for the organization. He revived his career with the Red Sox . The fact that he's reportedly retiring now shouldn't come as a shock. There were rumors back in 2025 that he was thinking about retirement , although he decided against it at the time.
Overall, Refsnyder played in parts of 11 big league seasons throughout his career as a member of the New York Yankees , Toronto Blue Jays , Tampa Bay Rays , Texas Rangers , Minnesota Twins , Red Sox and the Mariners. He finishes his big league career as a .246 career hitter with 37 homers and 165 RBIs in 594 games played. Plus, he finishes his career with 2.5 wins above replacement.
When the Red Sox brought him to town ahead of the 2022 season, he wasn't a household name. But he made a name for himself in Boston and the Red Sox were better for it. Refsnyder brought a solid righty bat to town as well as leadership in the clubhouse. Hopefully, he finds what he's looking for in his next chapter.
This article was originally published on www.si.com/mlb/red-sox/onsi as Former Red Sox Fan Favorite Rob Refsnyder Retires From MLB: Report .
