Pablo Sandoval was signed to what seemed to be a reasonable long-term contract during the 2014-2015 offseason, but nothing about the deal since has been reasonable. He’s struggled, he’s been hurt, and he’s struggled some more, and all of it cost him his job in Year 3 of his deal. The Red Sox announced that they designated Sandoval for assignment on Friday morning.
Red Sox designate Pablo Sandoval for assignment
Sandoval is still owed around $50 million on his contract, but the Red Sox aren’t going to pay him to hurt their chances on the field.
Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
He’s still owed $18 million in each of the next two seasons, a $5 million buyout, and what’s left of his $17 million for 2017. Sandoval signed a $95 million deal, so more than half of it is still out there waiting to be paid, and the Sox are either going to do so by paying him to play in the minors, or they’re going to part ways with the third baseman and watch someone else pick him up on Boston’s tab.
Given Sandoval has hit .237/.286/.360 for the Red Sox over three years, with defense that looks nothing like what he managed while with the Giants, the list of teams willing to take a shot on him even at the league minimum might be tiny or even nonexistent.
As for what the Sox will do at third base now, Jhonny Peralta won’t be the answer, either, as Boston released him from his minor league contract on Thursday. Presumably that move was made to make room for top prospect Rafael Devers at Triple-A, and Devers might end up being some kind of solution come September like Xander Bogaerts was back in 2013.
But relying on the 20-year-old to solve Triple-A in a hurry and then immediately be able to contribute in the majors is maybe asking too much, even if he is currently slugging .575 in a league that doesn’t reward hitters.
If Brock Holt’s concussion issues are behind him, he’s an option, but Holt at his healthiest and best is still a utility player who can step in as necessary. Boston’s answer to its third base problem, at least for 2017, is likely someone not even in the organization yet. With the trade deadline just weeks away, we probably won’t have to wait long to see who is going to take over for Sandoval.
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