The Seattle Mariners continued what’s been a fairly busy offseason on Monday with the addition of veteran right-handed-hitter Rob Refsnyder on a one-year contract.

Who is Rob Refsnyder? A close look at Seattle Mariners’ new OF/1B

The 34-year-old Refsnyder was far from the biggest name on the free-agent market, but he figures to fill a hole the M’s had on their roster as a platoon bat that mashes left-handed pitching.

“I like the move in that Refsnyder is one of the better platoon outfielders and first basemen … that we have seen in recent years,” MLB Network insider Jon Morosi told Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob on Monday. “He really does a good job against left-handed pitching.”

Refsnyder, a University of Arizona product, batted .302 with a .959 OPS, nine doubles and seven homers in 138 plate appearances against left-handed pitching for the Boston Red Sox in 2025. And over the past three seasons, he’s fifth among qualified hitters with a 152 wRC+ and sixth with a .909 OPS against left-handed pitching.

Those numbers are certainly an improvement for a Mariners team whose top right-handed platoon bats for most of last season were Dylan Moore and Mitch Garver, the former of which was released in August amid of 3-for-74 slump at the plate and the latter of whom is a free agent unlikely to return after Seattle signed backup catcher Andrew Knizner.

Refsnyder has mostly been a designated hitter and outfielder throughout his career. With the way the roster is currently constructed, his role with the Mariners figures to largely consist of being a right-handed platoon option at DH and right field opposite of Dominic Canzone or Luke Raley.

He is also capable of filling in at first base for the left-handed-hitting Josh Naylor. Refsnyder last played first base in 2020 and has logged 36 career games at the position.

However, Morosi wonders how much Refsnyder’s bat is needed in an outfield that includes right-handed-hitters Julio Rodríguez, Randy Arozarena and Victor Robles.

“What I’m curious though is a little bit of redundancy, right?” Morosi said. “When you think about the Mariners’ starting outfield on many a day, they would have three right-handed bats. Now, are they envisioning a different role for Canzone?”

Morosi added that the addition of Refsnyder seems like a smaller move for the M’s with a bigger one still coming, and a trade for left-handed-hitting Cardinals utilityman Brendan Donovan, a 2025 All-Star, is still very much a possibility.

“I would say, to the big picture, this does not at all preclude them from trading for Brendan Donovan as they’ve seemingly been trying to do for probably multiple years now,” Morosi said. “So this move, he’s a nice fit for the roster. He helps out.”

One thing Morosi felt certain about is that Refsnyder’s signing is a smaller move leading to a bigger one for the M’s.

“This does not feel like it’s the final piece. This is a piece,” Morosi said. “Refsnyder helps them out. He does do a good job against left-handed pitching, but ostensibly you would have Julio and Robles and Arozarena to do that for you in the outfield. I don’t think he’s necessarily just here as a DH platoon with Canzone. There has to be a next (move). Something else is coming here.”

“The signing of Refsnyder, for me, is the type of move you would make if you were expecting to flip Robles for a left-handed bat somewhere,” Morosi added. “That’s where my brain goes. Your outfield is a little bit right-handed and maybe we’re about to see a re-balancing of the lineup in some way.”

Hear the full conversation at this link or in the audio player near the top of this story. Listen to Wyman and Bob weekdays from 2-7 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

Seattle Mariners offseason coverage

• The Mariners could have one of spring training’s biggest stories
• Mariners slugger Cal Raleigh receives another award
• What would a Brendan Donovan trade cost the Seattle Mariners?
• Two 2025 Seattle Mariners pitchers reportedly join new teams
• Jorge Polanco sends impassioned message to Mariners fans