The Red Sox front office has to make a choice that has split their fans. A 34-year-old veteran who thought about retiring a few months ago is now ready to keep playing, and Boston seems interested in bringing him back. The bench bat had a slash line of .269/.354/.484 and hit nine home runs in 2025. He also hit over .300 against left-handed pitching. However, his return has sparked a debate about how to build the roster and what the team’s competitive priorities should be as they consider his projected $4 million market value.

Alex Speier of the Boston Globe says that “Rob Refsnyder plans to play in 2026 and has held informal discussions with the Red Sox about returning”. The outfielder, who earned $2 million in 2025, should have a good market because he has a good record against lefties and is well-liked in the clubhouse. Speier says that Refsnyder “thought about the possibility of retiring after the 2024 season,” but the veteran has decided to keep playing.

In 2025, Refsnyder hit .269/.354/.484 with nine home runs, 30 RBIs, and 12 doubles in 70 games. He was especially good at Fenway Park, where he hit .300/.391/.470 in home games. Against left-handed pitching, which was his specialty during his time with the Red Sox, Refsnyder kept his reputation as one of baseball’s best platoon options by hitting over .300. Since joining the team before the 2022 season, manager Alex Cora has found him to be a valuable weapon because he can give good at-bats in certain matchups.

The rumors about Refsnyder’s retirement that used to cloud his future have cleared. He told The Boston Globe that he thought about retiring after the 2024 season, when he had to weigh how worn out his body was against how much he wanted to win. That thought process made his choice to play another season more important. The Boston Red Sox now have to think about Refsnyder’s projected market value of just over $4 million in relation to their other needs on the roster. In 2025, when injuries hit the team, the outfielder stepped up and played important innings, showing that he can do more than just play his platoon role.

The front office may have the final say, but the fans have already made their opinions known, and they are very different.

Red Sox Fans Split on Refsnyder’s Potential Return

The front office is thinking about the reunion, but the fanbase has split into different groups that are fighting with each other. People on social media had strong opinions about whether bringing back the 34-year-old fits Boston’s goal of winning a championship.

“We need to turn the page. We have too many mediocre players in the starting lineup,” said one angry fan, which sums up the feelings of fans who think Refsnyder’s $4 million price tag would be better spent on someone else. The criticism missed his .354 on-base percentage and great performance against lefties, but it was part of a bigger problem with how the team was put together.

Another fan acknowledged the practical reality: “I was kinda thinking he was going to retire.” There was a lot of talk about retirement, which made it unclear if Refsnyder would even be available. His decision to keep playing was the first obstacle to any reunion.

Some supporters pushed for an upgrade despite Refsnyder’s solid contributions. “Please let’s upgrade, thanks for everything, Ref,” read one response that showed both gratitude and drive. The comment showed the conflict between wanting to keep a player who hit .300 at Fenway and going after better players.

A user echoed the power concern: “Maybe it’s time to move on, Sox could definitely use more power.” Refsnyder hit nine home runs in 70 games, which is a good amount of production for a platoon player. However, Boston’s lack of power was still a real problem.

Not everyone embraced the pessimism. “That’s awesome news. We need him. Hope he stays!!” declared a supporter who recognized Refsnyder’s value beyond raw statistics. Fans who knew that complementary pieces are important in building a championship team knew that he was one of the best bench options in baseball because of his .484 slugging percentage and ability to provide quality at-bats in high-pressure situations against left-handed pitching.