Yankees stealing ideal fit from Red Sox feels possible after latest expert tea leaves

The Yankees might be signing Cody Bellinger to a long-term pact. They might have an overflowing outfield (for one year only!), with Aaron Judge ready to resume right field duties and Trent Grisham Qualifying Offer-ing his way back into the picture.

Then again, they might be perfectly content to replace Bellinger's escalating cost with one of those right-handed bats Brian Cashman has recently become so obsessed with. In that case, it seems a fan-favorite platoon option might be shaking himself loose from the Red Sox's clutches.

For weeks now, the Yankees have preached they plan to build a bench/platoon depth that allows Aaron Boone to effectively mix and match. Jack Curry re-emphasized their ambition on Monday's Hot Stove, asking fans to "read the tea leaves" about the team's future endeavors. Building this type of lineup may sound like a basic tenet of baseball to some, but it hasn't been a major focus of the recent regime (prior to a midstream overhaul last summer that resulted in Austin Slater and Amed Rosario showing up).

If Bellinger returns, expects the Yankees to float Jasson Domínguez in exchange for pitching, then add a right-handed outfield bat. If Bellinger leaves, Domínguez likely stays, but receives a running mate. Regardless, Rosario's return was the first step towards the Yankees realizing their goal, and their next move probably involves ... well, an outfielder like Rob Refsnyder, who has been completely rejuvenated in recent years as a lefty masher.

The Red Sox began discussing Refsnyder's return "informally" before October had even closed. Somehow, their chat took a turn in recent weeks — maybe Boston remembered they have 30 outfielders, or noticed Nate Eaton's blazing hustle? — and the latest intel indicates Refsnyder is unlikely to stay in New England.

Sure, Austin Hays might be nice, but ... why not a familiar face who's extremely good at this?

Doesn't it ... feel like the stars are aligning for the Yankees to sign Rob Refsnyder away from the Red Sox?

Refsnyder was almost exclusively used to crush unsuspecting left-handers last season, and did so with enthusiasm, posting a .959 OPS with seven homers in just 138 plate appearances. It's the upset of the century that he didn't do damage against Max Fried in Game 1 of the Wild Card series.

This effort followed up a .941 OPS against lefties the season prior. It's what Refsnyder is. It's what he does. It doesn't appear to be fluke-ish or Fenway-based, either. He never chases. He often barrels the ball. In a larger sample size (more lefties, please!), he would've ranked among the game's most punishing outfielders, which is an absurd reality for any Yankee fan who remembers him as a chipmunkish utility infielder back in the mid-2010s.

But it could be our reality soon. Just read those tea leaves.