Why the Yankees May Have Waited Too Long to Shop Rob Refsnyder

There was a time when Rob Refsnyder was one of the one most exciting prospects in the New York Yankees’ farm system. To be fair, that time was before the team acquired a clutch of prospects from the Cubs and Indians.

The Yankees are now formally shopping Refsnyder, George A King III reported. Of course, there was a window to trade him before, most recently when the team traded for Starlin Castro. The ideal time to trade Refsnyder was when he was tearing up Triple-A pitching while figuring out how to play second base.

At this point, the time to trade Refsnyder has passed. He’s more valuable to the Yankees as a utilityman/bench-bat. Through 221 plate appearances as a major leaguer, Refsnyder’s offensive numbers have fallen off, and he’s not proven he can stick at any one position on the field.

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Yankees Don’t Have Anyone As Versatile

Instead, he’s shown an ability to play second base, first base, and both corner outfield positions. King noted the Yankees bench projects to be too crowded for the team to keep Refsnyder. They have Ronald Torreyes as a backup infielder, Aaron Hicks and Aaron Judge competing for the right field job and Chris Carter to backup Greg Bird at first. What’s more, Tyler Austin will get time in right field and at first base when he gets healthy.

However, none of the Yankees’ bench players can play both outfield and infield positions. As a utilityman who can hit, Refsnyder gives the bench more depth. As we know them today, Torreyes and Hicks are defense-first players. Carter is a one-tool slugger. Austin only plays two positions and figures to primarily play first base.

As a utilityman who can hit, Refsnyder gives the bench more depth

In addition to playing multiple positions, Refsnyder might just be the best hitter of the bunch. His numbers in the minors – his wRC+ never dipped below 123 from 2013 to 2105, and his first exposure to major league pitching was highly promising.

The only reason to cut ties with Refsnyder would be if he can’t be a good hitter coming off the bench. And that’s a tough task, of course, but that’s where his value is. In 175 plate appearances in 2016, Refsnyder slashed .250/.328/.309 and posted a 72 wRC+. If that carries over into this season, then there’s no reason to keep him around.

Refsnyder does have one more minor league option, so sending him down while figuring out what to do with him is an option. But it feels like the Yankees have been trying to figure out what to do with Refsnyder since they drafted him in the fifth round of the 2012 draft.

He was a right fielder in college, but the Yankees moved him to second. He had 194 Triple-A plate appearances before finally getting called up, only to head back to the minors for 54 plate appearances the next season.

Next: Yankees: No Surprise – Rob Refsnyder Is On The Trade Block

The best thing the Yankees can do for Refsnyder is to give him a role and stick to it. Even in being relegated to the bench, he can find consistency in knowing his place on the team.