The Philadelphia Phillies are one of the many teams looking to add outfield help this winter, especially from the right-handed hitting side.
But, after signing Adolis Garcia to a one-year, $10 million deal, would the Phillies still go out and acquire a right-handed-hitting outfielder? The answer is yes, as the Phillies plan to platoon a righty with lefty Brandon Marsh.
Matt Gelb of The Athletic linked the Phillies to one potential option, who has a strong market in the former Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees right-handed hitting outfielder, Rob Refsnyder.
Phillies linked to former Red Sox, Yankees OF to platoon with Brandon Marsh
"Dombrowski has continued to hype Otto Kemp as a possible partner, although the Phillies remain active in seeking complementary right-handed bats, league sources said." Gelb writes. "One obvious free agent fit: Rob Refsnyder, who has a strong market."
Refsnyder is a right-handed-hitting outfielder who is 34 years old and entering his 11th season in the Major Leagues. He's spent the majority of his 10-year MLB career with the Yankees and Red Sox.
Last season, as a platoon hitting outfielder for the Red Sox, Refsnyder hit.269 with an.838 OPS in 70 games and 182 at-bats. His role will be to hit left-handed pitching, and against lefties in 2025, he hit.302 with a.959 OPS.
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While he's not going to start every game, he will split time with Marsh in left field if the Phillies wind up signing him. Refnsyder gets the lefty pitchers, and Marsh will get right-handers. Against righties in 2025, Marsh hit.300 with an.838 OPS.
If the Phillies can land this platoon, then they would have a.300 hitter in the lineup regardless of whether it's a right-hander or a left-hander on the mound.
While most Phillies fans would like to land a Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger type to fully replace Marsh, a Refsnyder deal is the much more probable outcome this winter.
This platoon is likely the best the Phillies could employ this upcoming season. With no outfield blockbuster likely, adding a player like Refsnyder would make a lot of sense and be the exact kind of move that could propel the offense to the next level.
An outfield of Marsh and Refsnyder in left, Justin Crawford in center, and Adolis Garcia in right would be a solid group in 2026. While there are some unknowns with that group, the potential would be worth investing in.
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