Rob Refsnyder turns 34 subsequent March, and the utilityman is contemplating calling it a profession after the 2024 season involves an finish. Talking with Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe, Refsnyder stated he’s “undecided” about returning for what could be his tenth MLB season, and was even interested by retirement even earlier than he joined the Purple Sox through the 2021-22 offseason. As soon as this 12 months is over, Refsnyder stated he’ll “take it step-by-step from there and resolve what I do….You may nonetheless make a big effect not being in a uniform and it’s lots simpler for your loved ones and their schedule.”
As per the phrases of the contract extension Refsnyder signed in June 2023, the Sox maintain a $2MM membership possibility ($150K) on his providers for 2025. This selection appears like a lock to be exercised if Refsnyder needs to maintain taking part in, as he has a superb .298/.384/.472 slash line over 251 plate appearances in part-time obligation for the Purple Sox this season. Nonetheless, Refsnyder is raring to spend extra time along with his household, and is maybe eager to begin working in the direction of his longer-term aim of working in a entrance workplace.
Different objects from across the AL East…
- Bue Jays supervisor John Schneider gave MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson and different reporters an replace on Bo Bichette, noting that the shortstop has began to extend baseball actions whereas figuring out on the Jays’ spring coaching facility in Dunedin. A timeline isn’t but in place this early in Bichette’s restoration from a proper calf pressure, because the membership will monitor his progress within the coming days or even weeks earlier than deciding on a potential rehab project. Bichette suffered the calf pressure on July 19 in Toronto’s 5-4 loss to the Tigers, persevering with an all-around disastrous season that has seen Bichette bat solely .223/.276/.321 over 330 plate appearances. The previous All-Star’s struggles are certainly one of a number of the explanation why the Blue Jays are out of the playoff race, and if Bichette isn’t exhibiting progress in comparatively quick order, it wouldn’t be shocking if the Jays simply shut him down for the rest of the season.
- 2024 is the final assured season of the six-year, $24MM extension Brandon Lowe signed with the Rays previous to Opening Day 2019, however Tampa nonetheless has a pair of membership choices ($10.5MM with a $1MM buyout for 2025, $11.5MM for 2026 with a $500K buyout) overlaying Lowe’s speedy future. “Whether or not they decide up the choice or they don’t, I really feel like I’m placing myself in a great place to nonetheless be on a group subsequent 12 months,” Lowe informed Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Occasions, however Lowe famous that taking part in with the Rays “is all I do know. I prefer it right here. My buddies are right here. Now we have a home right here. It’s comfy. I don’t know anything. I do know this.” Given how the Rays dealt numerous higher-priced veterans on the deadline, Topkin figures that Lowe’s continued presence on the roster signifies that the group will train the 2025 possibility and maintain Lowe in Tampa Bay for an eighth season. Lowe is greater than doing his half on the plate to sway the Rays’ thoughts, as he’s hitting .248/.330/.488 with 14 homers over 282 PA.
- Danny Coulombe is “on monitor” in his rehab course of and is aiming to return in late September, the Orioles left-hander informed MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko. Coulombe is on the 60-day IL after present process surgical procedure in June to take away bone spurs from his left elbow. Whereas he’s nonetheless just a few weeks away from getting onto a mound, Coulombe is as much as throwing from 90 toes in video games of catch. The Orioles’ bullpen has struggled badly in August, leaving Baltimore in even larger want for regardless of the ace setup man can present every time he is ready to return to motion.
- The Yankees activated catcher Jose Trevino from the 10-day injured record on Friday, and Carlos Narvaez was optioned to Triple-A within the corresponding transfer. Yesterday’s sport marked Trevino’s first motion since a left quad pressure pressured him out of the Yankees’ 4-1 win over the Orioles on July 12. Trevino figures to renew his catching platoon with Austin Wells, although Wells’ sizzling bat over the past month may need earned him a bigger share of the taking part in time.