Last week, the Seattle Mariners signed veteran Rob Refsnyder to a one-year deal worth $6.25 million. I lauded the signing on a recent edition of the 'Refuse to Lose' podcast because of Refsnyder's track record against left-handed pitching. ESPN's Buster Olney was also a fan of the move.

Per Red Sox Nation Stats on social media:

Reliable Refsnyder, 35 by Opening Day, played 4 seasons with BOS, slashing .276 AVG/.364 OBP/.440 SLG in 309 games.

Refsnyder's .596 SLG vs lefty starters last year was 4th-best in #MLB (minimum 100 PA).

As long as he's healthy, Refsnyder will play every day against lefties, whether as a designated hitter, an outfielder or a first baseman. He'll be a big boon to the M's lineup and he will help out Dominic Canzone or Luke Raley in a platoon role.

However, not all M's fans are sold on the Refsnyder move. Some fans are disappointed that the M's haven't brought in an everyday player, and some are fearful that Refsnyder will turn into the next AJ Pollock, who was also brought in for his ability to hit left-handed pitching.

In 2023, Pollock hit just .173 with five home runs in 49 games before being let go.

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We spoke with Olney about these fears:

​I ​mean, ​I ​would ​agree ​that ​there's ​some ​risk. ​The ​fact ​that ​he's ​available ​in ​late ​December ​tells ​you ​it ​wasn't ​like ​he's ​viewed ​as ​a ​superstar ​player. ​​And ​given ​the ​fact ​that ​he's ​34 ​years-old, ​there's ​some ​risk ​for ​age ​and ​injury ​that ​is ​inherent ​when ​you ​add ​a ​player ​like ​that. ​But ​when ​you ​look ​at ​his ​recent ​track ​record, ​the ​guy ​hits, ​and ​he ​mashes ​lefties. ​He's ​excellent ​at ​that. ​So ​I ​think ​based ​on ​that ​and ​based ​on ​the ​amount ​of ​money ​that ​they ​spent ​on ​him, ​I ​think ​it's ​a ​pretty ​good ​signing.

We'll get our first look at Refsnyder in a Mariners uniform when the team reports to spring training in Peoria, Ariz. Given that Julio Rodriguez and Randy Arozarena are both expected to play in the World Baseball Classic, Refsnyder should get extended opportunities in Cactus League action. We'll have live coverage from M's spring training so continue to follow us here. 

The Mariners went 90-72 this past season, winning the American League West and advancing to Game 7 of the American League Championship Series before losing to the Toronto Blue Jays.

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