The saga of Pablo Sandoval has taken another interesting turn, as the Red Sox announced today that he has been placed on the 10-day DL with an inner ear infection. The underperforming veteran has long been rumored as a candidate to be replaced, but the move at least buys the team some time to plot its next steps.
Boston also announced that righty Austin Maddox was optioned back to Triple-A. First baseman Sam Travis and infielder Deven Marrero will come up to take the open spots on the active roster.
Sandoval, 30, now owns a .212/.269/.354 slash through 108 plate appearances. That’s obviously far shy of the kind of output the Sox need from a regular third baseman. And if he’s not capable of manning that spot with some regularity, there’s not much function to keeping him around.
Of course, there’s more to it than just that. The Red Sox owe Sandoval $17MM this year, $18MM apiece in 2018 and 2019, and then a $5MM buyout on a 2020 option. While the club is obviously going to pay that regardless, it would no doubt prefer to hold out the possibility of receiving some return on its investment.
Indeed, there seems to be a sense within the organization that there’s still some glimmer of hope for Sandoval after he worked hard to get in shape over the winter and showed well this spring. And it’s not as if the in-house replacement options are terribly appealing, either. Marrero will likely pair with Josh Rutledge at third, at least once Dustin Pedroia is able to return at second, while Travis will offer an alternative another right-handed bat for the first base/DH mix.
Giants all over again…
An inner ear infection? Really! What’s next a irritated hair follicle? Give me a break. This guy has to go. What a waste of money he’s been.
He’s a waste yes, but I’ve had many inner ear infections and they are extremely painful
Not as painful as having panda on your team
Good one lol
Probably found he was hiding a Twinkie and some Hershey kisses in his ears.
Please enlighten the masses with how that is even physically possible. Attempt at humor?? Try harder. And shhh, here’s a secret-Believe it or not, you actually are NOT the first one to make a joke like this about Pablo. Instead of following, maybe try leading.
Settle down lol
Pablo?
You mad?
It’s funny because it’s true.
Bordering on a waste of flesh!
i had an inner ear infection that put me in the hospital with vertigo. it throws off your balance. i couldn’t open my eyes without the world spinning.
What kind of prospect would the Red Sox deal away along with the entirety of Sandoval’s contract just to get that big financial commitment off the books?
Deal em to cut loses n u don’t have bad decision stank, gettin bag of BP balls in return n ur paying all that contract except 4 vet min if ur lucky! He had mad red flags, definition of overreaching.
Probably best to just grit your teeth and let him man third base in Pawtucket for the next couple years
That’s right Craig too, lotsa dumbass personnel decisions in beantown, all those millions of dollars wasted, just cause u can spend….doesn’t make ur big buys good or smart….think a FenwayDog just went up a buck! Teddy baseball is spinning in his cryodome…
He can not be sent to Pawtucket, if he is moved off 25 man he is released. Rusney and Craig didnt hane enough service time therefore needed to honor contract to get paid… Panda gets paid eitger way.
Okay, *probably best to grit your teeth, release him and eat the final two years of that contract.*
Groome or Devers. Nobody is taking the entire contract off your hands for anything less than 1 of those two.
Remainder this year and 18 and 19 salaries nobody wants
Look at recent examples. For instance
Padres had to ship about half or more of shields money in a deal.
Nobodys taking it.
Red sox wont deal devers or groome so youre stuck w it unless they eat half or more of the money owed.
No way anyone would take that contract but if they could just get a serviceable third baseman they are going to have to eat the dough (get it) anyway…..might as well get him off the roster and get a journeyman or someone to trplsce him. Can’t be worse than Rutledge or Merrero.
… not meant to be.
If the six just release him at least his salary won’t count against the luxury tax. Then they can make a trade for a Solarte or Nunez. Either way they still have to pay him.
*sox
Pretty sure his money would still count towards the luxury tax.
I agree. I believe it’s club payroll not 40 roster payroll
Does it? They outrighted craig and castillo so their money wouldn’t count against luxury tax so wouldn’t it be the same if the released players?
I think so!
If the player is off the 40 man roster then their salary is not counted against the luxury tax.
Yes. Exactly.
It doesn’t work that way. The Yankees still have ARod on their cap. If did not have sufficient service time they could send him down but that is not the case with Sandoval. The salary stays on the cap unless they can trade him.
This sounds like the DL trip ATL gave to Bartolo Colon recently.
This “glimmer of hope” the Sox have been seeing lately has been entirely evasive to the eyes of literally everyone else. I suppose when you have that payroll (and I’m a Sox fan) there’s a glimmer of hope in everything, though.
Another trip to the 10-day Digestion List
This guy plays better fat.
He will for certain make the worst contract signing Hall of Fame list!
He won’t be seen in a Sox uniform ever again.
God, we can all only hope you’re right!
Padres will never trade for him! Na na na boo boo! Stick your head in doo doo!
wtf?
Pardon my cynicism, but this does seem a little like “Panda, you seem to be listing to starboard a bit. Is it your balance? Inner ear need a little rest?”
This baffles me….I’m surprised the Red Sox have held out this long and continued letting this guy march out there. I understand the payroll committment, but wow…..he has been bad!
This would be a good question….dumbest move???
Boston waiting for their glimmer of hope
or
Washington to cheap to pay for a real closer
Well since Washington has such a big lead in their division I’d say it’s not a dumb move if they end up getting someone by the deadline, but Boston does not have the huge lead so I’d say it’s them.
my answer…..Boston for sure.
They are in a dogfight for the playoffs and need to make every game count. Washington’s closer situation is really only a postseason issue at this point. They are running away with the division.
The Dodgers are eating Carl Crawford’s contract ( also signed as a Red Sox) , it has really helped the team to spin him off. Boston needs to do the same with Panda.
Time to not walk but run away from Panda.
NOG should eat the cost and remember why Ben C is gone
They really should of kept Travis Shaw. Guy has been a beast and would of been their best hitter so far this year.
When he’s finally healthy, reactivated, and capable of passing a physical Sox should put him out there on revocable waivers just to see if any team is open to making a deal. BOS will have to eat that contract one way or another, but it’s better to get him off the roster ASAP and move on to other permanent options at 3B.