Free agent third baseman Pablo Sandoval arrived in Boston on Monday evening to meet with the Red Sox, according to Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com.
Red Sox meeting with Pablo Sandoval in Boston, per report
The Panda has landed in Boston, where he will meet with Red Sox officials. Will Sandoval be playing third base for Boston next season?
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
The Red Sox are said to be "all in" on Sandoval, though the Giants are still hoping to retain the 28-year-old's services. Sandoval is reportedly looking for a contract of at least six years in length, topping out above $100 million in total value.
Why this makes sense
Boston has long been a known suitor of Sandoval's, and the Red Sox could use an upgrade at the hot corner. The club's third basemen combined to hit just .211/.271/.308 in 2014, contributing to the team's woeful performance on offense. Will Middlebrooks' development has stagnated, and Brock Holt is certainly not the long-term option at third base, so the Red Sox have few other places to turn to upgrade the position.
Furthermore, Boston is motivated to bounce back from a disappointing 2014 campaign, with the team expected to be heavy spenders this winter. Adding a left-handed bat is near the top of GM Ben Cherington’s wish list, and Sandoval is one of the best offensive players on the market at a position the Red Sox truly need to improve. The Panda and the Red Sox are a perfect match at an opportune time for both sides.
Why this doesn’t make sense
The Red Sox have been reluctant to spend big on free agents ever since they jettisoned the unwieldy contracts of Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez to Los Angeles. Why would they suddenly splash cash on a third baseman with weight issues whose offense has declined in each of the past three seasons? Sandoval is the exact type of aging player Boston seeks to avoid.
Moreover, the Giants have a long track record of retaining their own players, and they are expected to make a big effort to re-sign Sandoval. Time and again, the club has proved its willing to reward players who perform well in a Giants uniform, offering big contracts to Hunter Pence, Tim Lincecum and Angel Pagan in recent years. As such, San Francisco will ensure that Sandoval remains with the team on a long-term basis.
Likelihood: 6 out of 10
This one could truly go either way, yet the Red Sox appear to be especially motivated to spend money this offseason. Despite a last-place finish in 2014, the club’s officials have insisted they expect to contend next season. Sandoval gives them an upgrade at third base and a potent left-handed bat in a righty-heavy lineup.
The Giants will make their best effort to re-sign Sandoval, but the Red Sox certainly have the money the Panda is hoping to get. Whether they want to make that kind of commitment to Sandoval in particular is the only question.
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