The Red Sox made a move to shore up their infield depth last night, inking Isiah Kiner-Falefa to a one-year deal. It’s a solid, low-risk signing for a Boston club that’s clearly still tinkering with its roster as spring training approaches. But the infield isn’t the only area drawing attention in the front office - the Sox are also actively exploring the market for a right-handed hitting outfielder, a void left behind when Rob Refsnyder signed with Seattle in free agency.
Refsnyder may not have been a headliner, but his role was a key one: a righty bat off the bench who could handle left-handed pitching and provide some defensive versatility. That’s exactly the profile Boston seems to be targeting again - a platoon-friendly outfielder who can balance out an otherwise lefty-heavy group.
And that imbalance is real. Ceddanne Rafaela is currently the only right-handed hitting outfielder on the roster.
He’s expected to be a fixture in the outfield thanks to his elite glove - arguably the best defensive outfielder in the game right now - but his bat still lags behind. The rest of the crew?
All lefties: Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, and Masataka Yoshida.
The numbers tell the story. Abreu has struggled mightily in left-on-left matchups, slashing just .205/.271/.318 in his career against southpaws.
Yoshida hasn’t fared much better, checking in at .237/.310/.340. Duran flashed some promise against lefties in 2023-24 but regressed last season, and now holds a lifetime .232/.284/.336 line in those situations.
Anthony, the promising young outfielder, showed he could handle both sides in his debut last year but was clearly more comfortable facing right-handed pitching.
So the need is obvious - Boston is lacking a reliable right-handed bat to complement this group. The free agent pool has thinned out, but there are still some names worth watching.
Veterans like Randal Grichuk, Austin Slater, Mark Canha, Connor Joe, and familiar faces like Hunter Renfroe and Tommy Pham are all still unsigned. Some of these players might even be available on minor league deals with spring invites, offering the Sox a chance to add depth without a major financial commitment.
The trade market is quieter this time of year, but there are still potential fits. Jake Meyers in Houston has reportedly been available for much of the offseason, and there are a few potential salary dump candidates out there - think Tyler O’Neill or Nick Castellanos - who could be had for cash and minimal prospect capital, assuming Boston is willing to take on the money.
Beyond the names we know, spring training always brings surprises. Veterans on minor league deals who don’t crack their team’s roster, players designated for assignment, or even waiver claims can all become options. Guys like Chas McCormick, Dylan Moore, and Stuart Fairchild - right-handed hitters with experience - will be in camps elsewhere and could become available depending on how rosters shake out.
The one wildcard in all of this? The budget.
It’s unclear how much financial flexibility chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and his staff have left. According to RosterResource projections, the Red Sox are currently about $20 million over the luxury tax threshold.
Any additional spending would come with a 42% tax hit - not insignificant, especially for a team that’s trying to stay agile with its roster construction.
Still, if Boston wants to stay competitive and avoid being overly vulnerable to left-handed pitching, adding a right-handed outfield bat feels like a necessary move. Whether that comes from a late free-agent signing, a spring waiver claim, or a small trade, expect the Sox to keep working the margins in the coming weeks.