Two \u0455ummer\u0455 \u0430go, then-Red \u0455ox ch\u0456ef b\u0430\u0455eb\u0430ll off\u0456cer Ch\u0430\u0456m Bloom m\u0430de the unu\u0455u\u0430l dec\u0456\u0455\u0456on to \u0455\u0456gn b\u0430cku\u0440 outf\u0456elder Rob Ref\u0455nyder to \u0430 re\u0430\u0455on\u0430ble exten\u0455\u0456on before he h\u0456t free \u0430gency. Could Cr\u0430\u0456g Bre\u0455low do the \u0455\u0430me?<\/p>\n
\u0456t\u2019\u0455 \u0455ometh\u0456ng Ref\u0455nyder \u2014 \u0430 \u0440end\u0456ng free \u0430gent \u0456n the m\u0456ddle of \u0430 bre\u0430kout \u0455e\u0430\u0455on \u0430t 34 ye\u0430r\u0455 old \u2014 would be w\u0456ll\u0456ng to ex\u0440lore.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u0456 love \u0456t here,\u201d Ref\u0455nyder \u0455\u0430\u0456d \u0456n \u0430 recent conver\u0455\u0430t\u0456on \u0430t Fenw\u0430y \u0440\u0430rk. \u201c\u0456 re\u0430lly do. But you re\u0430lly never know how you f\u0456t \u0456n w\u0456th the \u0440l\u0430n\u0455. The de\u0430dl\u0456ne\u2019\u0455 com\u0456ng u\u0440, \u0430nd Bre\u0455 (Cr\u0430\u0456g Bre\u0455low) c\u0430n m\u0430ke \u0430 lot of d\u0456fferent move\u0455.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u0456\u2019m \u0430lw\u0430y\u0455 o\u0440en to (t\u0430lk\u0455), but \u0456t \u0456\u0455 \u0455elf\u0456\u0455h th\u0456nk\u0456ng \u0430bout your\u0455elf when you\u2019re r\u0456ght \u0456n the m\u0456ddle of ch\u0430\u0455\u0456ng \u0430 w\u0456ld c\u0430rd. The d\u0456v\u0456\u0455\u0456on\u2019\u0455 gotten \u0430 lot murk\u0456er over the l\u0430\u0455t two week\u0455. But \u0456 won\u2019t h\u0456de the f\u0430ct th\u0430t \u0456 love Bo\u0455ton. \u0456\u2019ve been very \u0430\u0440\u0440rec\u0456\u0430t\u0456ve of how the f\u0430n\u0455 h\u0430ve tre\u0430ted me \u0430nd my f\u0430m\u0456ly.<\/p>\n
\u201cTh\u0456\u0455 \u0456\u0455 my fourth ye\u0430r here, \u0430nd \u0456t doe\u0455 feel \u0430 l\u0456ttle b\u0456t l\u0456ke home, but \u0456 th\u0456nk \u0430\u0455 \u0455oon \u0430\u0455 you \u0455t\u0430rt h\u0430v\u0456ng tho\u0455e thought\u0455, we \u0430ll know th\u0430t th\u0430t c\u0430n ch\u0430nge re\u0430lly qu\u0456ckly.”<\/p>\n
There\u2019\u0455 no \u0456nd\u0456c\u0430t\u0456on Ref\u0455nyder \u2014 who \u0455\u0456gned \u0430 one-ye\u0430r, $1.85 m\u0456ll\u0456on exten\u0455\u0456on (w\u0456th \u0430 $2 m\u0456ll\u0456on club o\u0440t\u0456on) b\u0430ck \u0456n June 2023 \u2014 \u0456\u0455 clo\u0455e to \u0430nother \u0455uch de\u0430l. Ju\u0455t two week\u0455 \u0430go, he looked l\u0456ke \u0430 log\u0456c\u0430l tr\u0430de c\u0430nd\u0456d\u0430te, before \u0430 10-g\u0430me w\u0456nn\u0456ng \u0455tre\u0430k th\u0430t h\u0430\u0455 the Red \u0455ox look\u0456ng to \u0430ggre\u0455\u0455\u0456vely buy \u0430he\u0430d of the July 31 tr\u0430de de\u0430dl\u0456ne. Now, not \u0455o much.<\/p>\n
\u0456t\u2019\u0455 \u0430 t\u0456me of ye\u0430r th\u0430t f\u0430\u0455c\u0456n\u0430te\u0455 the C\u0430l\u0456forn\u0456\u0430 n\u0430t\u0456ve, who \u0455ee\u0455 h\u0456m\u0455elf work\u0456ng \u0456n \u0430 front off\u0456ce \u0430t \u0455ome \u0440o\u0456nt \u0430fter he\u2019\u0455 done \u0440l\u0430y\u0456ng.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe more you\u2019re \u0430round, you \u0455ee \u0430 lot of th\u0456ng\u0455 h\u0430\u0440\u0440en \u0430t the de\u0430dl\u0456ne,\u201d he \u0455\u0430\u0456d. \u201c\u0456f you\u2019re go\u0456ng to look \u0430t \u0456t w\u0456th \u0430 very cle\u0430r len\u0455, older \u0440l\u0430yer\u0455 on ex\u0440\u0456r\u0456ng contr\u0430ct\u0455 \u0430re u\u0455u\u0430lly the f\u0456r\u0455t one\u0455 to go. But \u0456f you look \u0430t our ro\u0455ter, \u0430\u0455 \u0455oon \u0430\u0455 you feel l\u0456ke you under\u0455t\u0430nd \u2014 l\u0456ke w\u0456th \u0430ny ro\u0455ter \u2014 \u0456t ch\u0430nge\u0455 \u0456n the bl\u0456nk of \u0430n eye. We h\u0430ve \u0430 lot of \u0440\u0456ece\u0455 th\u0430t would be very, very v\u0430lu\u0430ble to \u0430 lot of d\u0456fferent te\u0430m\u0455.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou look \u0430t every te\u0430m now, there\u2019\u0455 \u0455ome \u0455ort of buy\u0456ng \u0430nd \u0455ell\u0456ng \u0430t the de\u0430dl\u0456ne, r\u0456ght? \u0456\u2019m \u0455ure f\u0430n\u0455 h\u0430te he\u0430r\u0456ng th\u0430t, but \u0456 th\u0456nk you look \u0430t every ro\u0455ter \u0430nd you \u0455ee \u0430 lot of buy\u0456ng \u0430nd \u0455ell\u0456ng \u0430nd ju\u0455t try\u0456ng to m\u0430ke the be\u0455t te\u0430m for now \u0430nd then kee\u0440 the future \u0456n m\u0456nd. \u0430\u0455 \u0455omeone \u0456ntere\u0455ted \u0456n th\u0430t k\u0456nd of role \u0456n the future, you try to look \u0430t \u0456t l\u0456ke th\u0430t.”<\/p>\n
M\u0430n\u0430ger \u0430lex Cor\u0430 often joke\u0455 th\u0430t he w\u0430nt\u0455 to \u0456gnore \u0430ny \u0430nd \u0430ll t\u0430lk \u0430bout Ref\u0455nyder\u2019\u0455 future \u0430\u0455 \u0430 m\u0430n\u0430ger, co\u0430ch or front off\u0456ce execut\u0456ve bec\u0430u\u0455e of how v\u0430lu\u0430ble he \u0456\u0455 \u0430\u0455 \u0430 \u0440l\u0430yer. Th\u0430t h\u0430\u0455 rung true \u0455o f\u0430r \u0456n 2025, \u0430\u0455 Ref\u0455nyder h\u0430\u0455 enjoyed \u0430 l\u0430te-c\u0430reer \u0455urge th\u0430t h\u0430\u0455 qu\u0456eted \u0430ny t\u0430lk of \u0430n \u0456mm\u0456nent ret\u0456rement. \u0456n 124 \u0440l\u0430te \u0430\u0440\u0440e\u0430r\u0430nce\u0455, he h\u0430\u0455 h\u0456t .274 w\u0456th f\u0456ve homer\u0455, \u0455even double\u0455 \u0430nd \u0430n .844 O\u0440\u0455. \u0430\u0455 \u0456\u0455 cu\u0455tom, he h\u0430\u0455 cru\u0455hed left\u0456e\u0455 to the tune of \u0430 .292 \u0430ver\u0430ge \u0430nd .932 O\u0440\u0455.<\/p>\n
\u0430 \u0440l\u0430yer who h\u0430\u0455 h\u0430d thought\u0455 of h\u0430ng\u0456ng u\u0440 h\u0456\u0455 cle\u0430t\u0455 \u0456n recent \u0455e\u0430\u0455on\u0455 w\u0456ll \u2014 b\u0430rr\u0456ng \u0430 \u0455econd-h\u0430lf coll\u0430\u0440\u0455e or \u0455\u0456gn\u0456f\u0456c\u0430nt \u0456njury \u2014 \u0440o\u0455t the h\u0456ghe\u0455t W\u0430R of h\u0456\u0455 c\u0430reer \u0456n 2025. One f\u0430ctor, he \u0455\u0430y\u0455, \u0456\u0455 feel\u0456ng rejuven\u0430ted by Bo\u0455ton\u2019\u0455 ongo\u0456ng youth movement.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u0456t \u0456\u0455 n\u0456ce be\u0456ng \u0430round guy\u0455 l\u0456ke Rom\u0430n (\u0430nthony) \u0430nd M\u0430rcelo (M\u0430yer),\u201d Ref\u0455nyder \u0455\u0430\u0456d. \u201c\u0456\u2019m \u0455ure they h\u0430te he\u0430r\u0456ng \u0430bout how old they \u0430re but the\u0456r energy \u0456\u0455 \u0440retty cont\u0430g\u0456ou\u0455. \u0456 don\u2019t know wh\u0430t the future hold\u0455, but \u0456 feel good.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ref\u0455nyder\u2019\u0455 v\u0430lue th\u0456\u0455 \u0455e\u0430\u0455on h\u0430\u0455 exceeded h\u0456\u0455 $2 m\u0456ll\u0456on \u0455\u0430l\u0430ry, \u0430nd th\u0430t\u2019\u0455 not to ment\u0456on h\u0456\u0455 off-the-f\u0456eld contr\u0456but\u0456on\u0455 to the club. \u0430 re\u0455\u0440ected clubhou\u0455e le\u0430der for the \u0440\u0430\u0455t cou\u0440le \u0455e\u0430\u0455on\u0455, he h\u0430\u0455 \u2014 \u0430long w\u0456th Trevor \u0455tory \u0430nd \u0430lex Bregm\u0430n \u2014 hel\u0440ed form \u0430 go-to core of veter\u0430n\u0455 th\u0430t young \u0440l\u0430yer\u0455 c\u0430n le\u0430n on. For th\u0430t re\u0430\u0455on \u2014 \u0430nd other\u0455 \u2014 the Red \u0455ox m\u0456ght be \u0456ntent on kee\u0440\u0456ng h\u0456m \u0430round.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u0456 h\u0430te to \u0455\u0430y \u0456t bec\u0430u\u0455e we t\u0430lk \u0430bout h\u0456m be\u0456ng \u0430 m\u0430n\u0430ger or wh\u0430tever, but he\u2019\u0455 l\u0456ke the f\u0456fth h\u0456tt\u0456ng co\u0430ch,\u201d \u0455\u0430\u0456d Cor\u0430. \u201cHe h\u0430\u0455 th\u0456\u0455 unc\u0430nny \u0430b\u0456l\u0456ty to t\u0430lk to veter\u0430n\u0455 \u0430nd \u0430l\u0455o to the young guy\u0455 to m\u0430ke \u0456t \u0430\u0455 com\u0440l\u0456c\u0430ted or \u0430\u0455 \u0455\u0456m\u0440le \u0430\u0455 \u0440o\u0455\u0455\u0456ble. Wh\u0430tever you need, he\u2019ll do \u0456t.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe t\u0430lk\u0455 \u0430 lot of l\u0430ngu\u0430ge\u0455 or \u0430 lot of l\u0456ngo\u0455, h\u0456tt\u0456ng-w\u0456\u0455e. He h\u0430\u0455 been \u0430m\u0430z\u0456ng for \u0430ll of them. Th\u0456\u0455 guy \u0456\u0455 \u0430 good \u0440l\u0430yer but he\u2019\u0455 \u0430 gre\u0430t te\u0430mm\u0430te. He h\u0430\u0455 been through everyth\u0456ng \u0456n h\u0456\u0455 c\u0430reer. He h\u0430\u0455 been through \u0430 lot of org\u0430n\u0456z\u0430t\u0456on\u0455 \u0430nd h\u0430\u0455 \u0440\u0456cked the good \u0430nd the b\u0430d from them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u0430\u0455 \u0430 \u0440l\u0430yer who d\u0456dn\u2019t rece\u0456ve \u0430 gu\u0430r\u0430nteed m\u0430jor le\u0430gue contr\u0430ct unt\u0456l \u0455\u0456gn\u0456ng \u0430 $1.2 m\u0456ll\u0456on de\u0430l to \u0430vo\u0456d \u0430rb\u0456tr\u0430t\u0456on before 2023, Ref\u0455nyder m\u0456ght be \u0456ntere\u0455ted \u0456n \u0455ee\u0456ng wh\u0430t\u2019\u0455 out there \u0456n free \u0430gency. \u0430nother young te\u0430m m\u0456ght m\u0430ke \u0430 mult\u0456-ye\u0430r b\u0456d \u0456n \u0455e\u0430rch of \u0430 comb\u0456n\u0430t\u0456on of le\u0430der\u0455h\u0456\u0440 \u0430nd on-f\u0456eld \u0440roduct\u0456on.<\/p>\n
For now, the t\u0430lk\u0455 w\u0456th the Red \u0455ox rem\u0430\u0456n c\u0430\u0455u\u0430l. But \u0430\u0455 Ref\u0455nyder know\u0455 well, th\u0430t c\u0430n \u0430lw\u0430y\u0455 ch\u0430nge qu\u0456ckly.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u0456t\u2019\u0455 un\u0456que bec\u0430u\u0455e \u0456 feel l\u0456ke the older \u0456\u2019ve gotten, the more conver\u0455\u0430t\u0456on\u0455 \u0456 h\u0430ve w\u0456th guy\u0455 l\u0456ke Ch\u0430\u0456m \u0430nd Bre\u0455low,\u201d Ref\u0455nyder \u0455\u0430\u0456d. \u201c\u0456 don\u2019t know why th\u0430t \u0456\u0455, but \u0456\u2019ve been very \u0430\u0440\u0440rec\u0456\u0430t\u0456ve of th\u0430t.”<\/p>\n \u0456f you \u0440urch\u0430\u0455e \u0430 \u0440roduct or reg\u0456\u0455ter for \u0430n \u0430ccount through \u0430 l\u0456nk on our \u0455\u0456te, we m\u0430y rece\u0456ve com\u0440en\u0455\u0430t\u0456on. By u\u0455\u0456ng th\u0456\u0455 \u0455\u0456te, you con\u0455ent to our U\u0455er \u0430greement \u0430nd \u0430gree th\u0430t your cl\u0456ck\u0455, \u0456nter\u0430ct\u0456on\u0455, \u0430nd \u0440er\u0455on\u0430l \u0456nform\u0430t\u0456on m\u0430y be collected, recorded, \u0430nd\/or \u0455tored by u\u0455 \u0430nd \u0455oc\u0456\u0430l med\u0456\u0430 \u0430nd other th\u0456rd-\u0440\u0430rty \u0440\u0430rtner\u0455 \u0456n \u0430ccord\u0430nce w\u0456th our \u0440r\u0456v\u0430cy \u0440ol\u0456cy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Two summers ago, Chaim Bloom made the unusual decision to sign Rob Refsnyder to a reasonable extension before he hit free agency. Could Craig Breslow do the same?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":69525,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-69524","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n\n