There’s at least some possibility the Red Sox’ recent decision to designate Pablo Sandoval for assignment could result in the veteran heading back to San Francisco, FanRag’s Jon Heyman writes. Sources close to Sandoval indicate that he would be highly interested in returning to the Giants, despite comments he made during his first Spring Training with Boston in which he claimed the only Giants he would miss were Bruce Bochy and Hunter Pence.
The Giants’ own level of interest is less clear, and GM Bobby Evans recently demurred when asked about Sandoval (which is standard policy, since Sandoval is still technically a member of another organization). Whispers surrounding the club indicate, however, that the team is at least considering bringing Sandoval back.
Once he clears waivers, the Red Sox can outright Sandoval to Triple-A or release him, at which point he’ll be able to sign elsewhere at a prorated portion of the league-minimum salary. Whatever happens, the Red Sox are extremely likely to be on the hook for the remainder of Sandoval’s contract, which pays him about $50MM more through 2019.
After a three-season tenure in Boston marked mostly by injuries and poor hitting, it’s unsurprising that Sandoval would now have a different view about playing with the Giants. While in San Francisco, he was a part of three World Series titles (including 2012, when he was World Series MVP, and his last year with the club in 2014), and made two All-Star teams.
What’s less clear is how the Giants might view a player who’s shown few glimpses of his early-career talent since departing for Boston, particularly one who burned bridges with the organization as he departed. As Andrew Baggarly of the Bay Area News Group points out, the Giants have frequently brought back former players (such as Ryan Vogelsong and Travis Ishikawa) after stints elsewhere. But it’s hard to see what purpose re-acquiring Sanodval would serve, unless the Giants feel he would benefit quite dramatically from a change of scenery.
A trade of Eduardo Nunez could technically leave the Giants with a vacancy at third base, but they might prefer to take a closer look at former KBO slugger Jae-gyun Hwang. (Another possibility, Christian Arroyo, is currently on the shelf with a hand injury.) And in general, a 35-56 team would not seem likely to be interested in 30-year-old veteran three years removed from his last good season. Perhaps, though, the Giants could find space for Sandoval to reestablish himself in Triple-A, or count on him to contribute in big-league bench role.
RiverCatsFilms
Erm, thanks for the offer?
halos101
i cannot see how this makes sense. Giants have better options at third and he didn’t leave in great terms
tattooed trash
Bobby Evans should be fired, tarred, and feathered if they bring back that worthless Panda. I hated him for years and the best move Sabean ever did was to let him leave.
mrnatewalter
The report is that Sandoval has the interest, not the other way around.
halos101
it’s not like there gonna give him a huge deal relax
biasisrelitive
if they got him it would be at the minimum so it would be a no risk deal so why not bring him in.
bsteady7
He may not ever be real good again. But I can most definitely see him being like Jason Hammel is to the Cubs. Hammel pitches very well when he’s in a Cub’s jersey. He’s very average or less when he is on another team. Panda wanted to be back in San Fran the moment he signed that contract.
mrnatewalter
I mean, I guess it doesn’t hurt anything to put in on a MiLB deal and make him force his way up. But Gillaspie, Hwang & Jones should continue to get first considerations in 2017.
JKB 2
“Panda wanted to be back in SF the moment he signed that contract”
Give me a break! If true he would not have signed with Boston as SF offer was very close and he also ripped SF by saying he was insulted by the offers made during the season.
No sir he wanted out bad!
Now after ripping the Giants and then further ripping them that spring training (further showing he had no regret) then shame on the Giants if they take that clubhouse cancer back
trace
It’s nice to want things, Pablo.
Rounding3rd
Now go have another ice cream sundae, Panda. Or two.
ric7744
Gillespie doesn’t really bring anything and Jones is not going to make it. Arroyo and Hwang need to stick around. Panda at least has a personality something this team doesn’t have
conquerbeard
So, what’s his WAR when you factor in his personality?
LA Sam
I’m pretty sure his post game buffet spread WAR is HOF….
lanceparrish
Don’t any of you remember Rich Aurilia’s grand return to his former self?
Me neither.
everlastingdave
I too would have interest in playing for the Giants. I still have all my years of team control remaining, and a young arm.
mrnatewalter
Can Righetti work with my 45mph fastball? If so, sign me up!
Pb
What if the Red Sox eat 60% of the contract and include a top notch prospect along with Sandoval in exchange for Nunez? There’s no way the Giants get a top prospect for Nunez alone. Red Sox save some cash and get a decent third baseman, Giants get a much needed infusion of young talent at a modest cost.
empiresam
Can’t see the Giants or any team giving anything. isn’t it his choice, minor leagues or releases due to his service time? if there’s mutual interest, he’ll turn down going to Pawtucket.
Pb
My thinking was it’s a way for the Giants to eat some money, but get an elite prospect thrown into the deal. The farm is so barren it might just be worth it.
JKB 2
Red Sox are not sending you an elite prospect just to save them money. Wow. How do you think of that
Pb
They might if they got a 3B in the deal as well. Nunez is an upgrade to what they have. And $20M in savings isn’t chump change for a team with higher future payroll commitments
Rounding3rd
I wouldn’t take Panda at MLB minimum salary. It would be wasting a 40-man slot.
slogar1
Sign him to a minor league contract and let’s see how serious he is.
Strunk Flugget
If he were that serious he’d make a better effort to get in shape, but I suppose this wouldn’t hurt.
El Duderino
In fairness, “round” is a shape.
Patick L
lol
jd396
Excellent.
SupremeZeus
Only future as a Giant is in the Balldude Program.
badco44
What we have here is a lack of communication! … the tools are broken beyond repair… no bat , no glove, no pride in his self = no MLB
gilgunderson
You must not be aware of what a “Balldude” is at AT&T Park.
mikeyank55
He’s a perfect fit for the Mets as he satisfies their number one criteria:
FREE
Another Cheap Wilpon move.
Plus with Tebow they can become the metropolitan freakteam
TheMichigan
Get off your high horse mate.
jd396
If you need a hug, we’re here for you.
nailz#4life
It will sell tickets for a team that needs fans to be excited about something
leprechaun
He is the poster child for why MLB should have the same deal as the NFL. If you don’t earn your money and stay competitive your cut and no more $$$$. Only certain amount of contract should be guaranteed the rest earned as you go
mrnatewalter
Define “earn your money and stay competitive”. Because if I were a billionaire owner, I would define it as “anyone under 33.”. Other owners can create their own subjective definition as well.
jd396
There’s that MLBPA canard, and then here on Earth there’s the perfectly reasonable idea not having your entire contract fully guaranteed on day one regardless of how much of a miserable non entity you end up being. No business gets to sign a contract and not perform on it and still make out OK.
Honestly, if huge contracts weren’t fully guaranteed teams would be more apt to sign them and pay guys big money knowing that they’re not totally conclusively boned for years and years if the guy nose dives all the sudden.
davidcoonce74
That’s total nonsense. Let’s look at it this way:
In 2011 Pablo Sandoval put up a 6.1 Win season. In 2011 six wins were worth, on the open market, around 33 million dollars. Know how much Pablo got paid that year? 500, 000. Wouldn’t it have been fair for the Giants to pay him his market worth then? I doubt you’d agree, and neither would I, but it’s fair to say he was grossly underpaid compared to his worth.
This is the deal with Free Agency, and teams know it: they’re not paying a player for his future performance. They’re paying for his past performance, the underpaid years. A guy like Sandoval, according to WAR,, lost about 117 million in earnings during his pre-FA years. So yeah, he was going to get paid regardless. It was possibly, and will be, his only payday.
Pablo didn’t force Boston to pay him. People don’t pay to watch owners make money hand-over-fist (as they are all doing, btw). Most free-agent contracts don’t end well.
mrnatewalter
“No business gets to sign a contract and not perform on it and still make out OK.”
Have you seen the public education sector in this country?
HubcapDiamondStarHalo
“Son, we’d like to keep you around this season but we’re going to try and win a pennant.” – Casey Stengel
LA Sam
Ol skool!
BalcoBomber
Man if he could just hit his weight, he’d be the first guy to hit over 400 since Williams.
Solaris611
Sandoval needs to head to Japan to rebuild his value if he’s serious about playing for an MLB team in the future.
Patick L
That’s actually a really good idea.
jd396
What would he eat?
El Duderino
What wouldn’t he eat?
NVSportsCards
I just don’t see the upside. Sign for the pro-rated minimum to do what? Just to plug the hole when they trade Nunez? To sell more Panda hats?
julyn82001
Welcome back, Panda!!!!
Gobbysteiner
Hell to the no
mcase7187
His career is over time to move on go to Japan or Korea
pustule bosey
if he gets released or the sox eat nearly all of the salary – I would welcome him back as a bench bat but I think that hwang and arroyo are better options for the future than pablo
SixGuns
Remember back in ’84 when the Giants had the crab mascot? Now they would have a Panda mascot
southpawblu
This organization has zero pride! They go crazy for cheating bonds! Panda at least helped them win .. bust out your panda gear boys 30 games back you need a side show
dstuart
Not a chance. Fat ass ruined his chance at a reunion when he dogged the organization after he left. Funny now that nobody wants him he has no problem with the Giants.
LA Sam
Already knows all the best restaurants!
giants51
Good grief…… are we that low to pick this piece of crap up…… He’s history and has worn out his welcome……..
giants51
Things are bad enough this season and they want a headache in the Panda…… They need to rethink there options
jonnyblah
The Giants know better. He also burned bridges with the fan base. Won’t happen unless he’s a bench piece for the River Cats at minimum salary…