It’s officially December, which means the Winter Meetings are right around the corner. Although there have been a few notable moves around the league, the Winter Meetings are when big-name free agents start to sign their new contracts and blockbuster trades come to fruition.
The Philadelphia Phillies are one of the teams to watch this offseason. The reigning back-to-back NL East champions are trying to keep their World Series window open, despite an aging roster and consecutive NLDS exits.
Kyle Schwarber may be the Phillies’ top priority in free agency, but the team has other holes to fill heading into 2026. The outfield is likely in for a significant revamp this offseason.
Rob Refsnyder named 'perfect' free agent match for Phillies
It’s not a secret that the Phillies’ outfield will look different in 2026. Max Kepler and Harrison Bader are free agents, and Nick Castellanos is expected to be traded or released this offseason.
Justin Crawford, the Phillies’ No. 3 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, is expected to make the Opening Day roster, but the rest of the outfield faces uncertainty. Brandon Marsh, Johan Rojas and Weston Wilson are a few of the other options, as well as recently acquired outfielders Pedro León and Bryan De La Cruz.
The Phillies likely will turn to free agency or the trade block to add a notable outfielder or two. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand believes Rob Refsnyder is the “perfect” free agent match for the Phillies.
Refsnyder isn’t the flashiest name linked to the Phillies, but the veteran could be a temporary fix to the team’s outfield problems. The 34-year-old can play all three outfield positions, primarily the corners, and has experience at first and second base.
Refsnyder checks a key box for the Phillies; he’s a right-handed hitting outfield bat. Marsh and Crawford are both left-handed hitters, and two of the Phillies’ right-handed hitting outfielders from 2025, Bader and Castellanos, may not be back in 2026.
Ideally, the Phillies would like an everyday outfielder, but Refsnyder is effective when he’s in the lineup. He hit .276 across the last four seasons with the Boston Red Sox, including .307 in 57 games in 2022.
Refsnyder isn’t necessarily a major power threat at the plate, but he offers some pop in his bat. He hit a career-high 11 home runs in 93 games in 2024 and was on pace for a 20-home run season in 2025 if he had played 162 games.
More importantly, Refsnyder hits left-handed pitching well. Seven of his nine home runs came against lefties in 2025, and he hit .302 with a .959 OPS against southpaws in 116 at-bats.
The Phillies could land Refsnyder on a one-year deal worth $4-$5 million. He’d be a temporary solution to try to win a World Series in 2026 and would still keep the team in play for bigger-name outfielders such as Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger.