The Phillies’ outfield picture for 2026 is nearly complete - but not quite. There’s still a clear void in left field, where a right-handed bat to complement Brandon Marsh is noticeably absent. And with Rob Refsnyder signing with the Mariners on Monday, Philadelphia may have just watched its best platoon option slip away.
Refsnyder, a 10-year MLB veteran with a proven track record against left-handed pitching, inked a one-year deal with Seattle worth $6.25 million, plus incentives. That’s a reasonable price tag for a player who fits exactly what the Phillies need: a righty bat who can punish southpaws and balance out a lefty-heavy outfield.
Let’s break it down. Marsh is expected to handle the bulk of the work in left field, and he’s earned that role - at least against righties.
After a sluggish start to 2025, the 26-year-old rebounded nicely, finishing with a .280 average and .785 OPS in 133 games. But the numbers tell a more specific story: 337 of his 425 plate appearances came against right-handers, and he made the most of them, slashing .300 with an .838 OPS, nine homers, and 24 doubles.
Against lefties, though, the production dipped, reaffirming what’s been clear for a while now - Marsh thrives in a platoon role.
That’s where Refsnyder could have made a real impact. In 2025, he appeared in 70 games for Boston, posting a solid .269 average and .838 OPS overall.
But against left-handers, he was a difference-maker: a .302 average, .560 slugging, and seven homers in just 138 plate appearances. That’s elite-level platoon production - the kind that would have paired beautifully with Marsh to form a dynamic left field tandem.
Instead, the Phillies are left looking inward.
With no signs that Dave Dombrowski plans to add another outfielder externally, the focus now shifts to internal candidates. The current spring training battle for that right-handed platoon role looks like it’ll come down to Otto Kemp, Weston Wilson, Pedro León, and Bryan De La Cruz.
Kemp seems to be the early favorite - or at least the player Dombrowski is most intrigued by. The 25-year-old made his big-league debut in 2025, showing flashes despite playing through a fractured kneecap.
In 218 plate appearances, Kemp hit .234 with a .709 OPS and eight home runs. Not eye-popping numbers, but considering the injury, there’s reason to believe there’s more in the tank.
Still, betting on an unproven Kemp - or any of the other in-house options - is a gamble, especially when a proven platoon bat like Refsnyder was available at a manageable cost. And now, with Refsnyder off the board, the Phillies’ best shot at rounding out their outfield with a reliable right-handed stick is gone.
Unless something changes over the next couple of months, Philadelphia will head into spring training with Marsh in left, top prospect Justin Crawford in center, and newly acquired Adolis García in right. It’s a high-upside outfield, no doubt - but without a dependable right-handed complement to Marsh, it’s also a group with an obvious question mark.
The Phillies aren’t in crisis mode - far from it. But in a tightly contested National League, small roster decisions can have big implications. And as of now, left field still feels one piece short.