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Where Should Pablo Sandoval End Up In 2015?

By Jeff Weisinger

Oct 31, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval (48) holds up a panda costume head during the World Series victory parade on Market Street. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval (48) holds up a panda costume head during the World Series victory parade on Market Street. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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For the first-time in his career, Giants’ third-baseman Pablo Sandoval is the star of MLB free agency.  The question is, will he end up staying in San Francisco, or is the Panda set to take his talents elsewhere?

For the first time in his career, three-time World Series champion third baseman Pablo Sandoval is a free agent — a star, top-priority type free agent.  The question this winter with the 28-year-old third baseman is: what hat will he wear in 2015?

Rumors have had Sandoval possibly leaving the Giants for the Boston Red Sox, as reports have said that the Sox are “all-in” on Sandoval, while the Giants are being patient with him.

Oct 29, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval hits a double against the Kansas City Royals in the 8th inning during game seven of the 2014 World Series at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval hits a double against the Kansas City Royals in the 8th inning during game seven of the 2014 World Series at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /

Sandoval hit .279 with 16 home runs and 73 RBI for the Giants in 2014 and .317 with 11 homers and 54 RBI from the left side of the plate, a factor that would make him a perfect fit for Fenway Park.

Overall, Sandoval would add a much-needed offensive presence to a Red Sox lineup that ranked 22nd in team batting average in the entire MLB last season (.244/.316/.369) and were also towards the bottom half in combined home runs (123).  David Ortiz was the only left-handed Red Sox hitter to drive in 50 or more runs for Boston last year. Sandoval’s presence and availability to hit from the left side of the plate would certainly help.

“He’s more of an American League player,” said a Red Sox executive.  “And he can really hit.”

In interleague play last year, Sandoval was the designated hitter in nine games in American League parks, hitting .235 (8-for-34) with a homer and four RBI’s.

Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said that he met with Sandoval’s agent Gustavo Vazquez on Tuesday and that both sides had a “constructive” meeting.

Vazquez has publicly stated that Sandoval wants a six-year deal worth around $90-$100 million.

Sandoval saved his best year with the Giants for his 2014 contract year, playing in a career-high 157 games, the most he’s played since 2009 (153), recording a 3.3 WAR rating in the process, his highest since his 6.1 WAR in 2011.

While Sandoval has been great in the regular season as of late, playing in over 100 games in the last six straight years, it’ll be his bat in October that Boston, or whomever ends up snatching the Panda, will need most.  Sandoval has hit .344 in the postseason with six homers and 20 RBI and has three rings and a World Series MVP from the Giants 2012 run to back up his cause.

If Sandoval can stay consistent on the field, he could easily justify his $90-$100 million price tag, and remember, there are several teams outside of San Francisco, and even Boston, with deep pockets and a need for a quality, power-hitting third baseman.  The Yankees, Tigers, White Sox, Cubs, and Dodgers could all also be factors in the race to capture the Panda.

Outside of Boston and San Francisco, seeing Pablo go to the Tigers could be unlikely, but actually may not be a bad move overall.

The Tigers currently have 22-year-old Nick Castellanos as their third-baseman and all he did was bat .259 in his first full season in the bigs.  If that doesn’t sound too bad, Castellanos also had a wins below average worth 3.7 wins below average and a defensive runs above replacement rating of -30, worst in the majors according to ESPN’s Dave Schoenfield.

To make the case for Sandoval landing in Comerica Park, he has a 4.5 WAR over Castellanos and would install another solid bat in a Detroit lineup that’s aiming for another World Series run in 2015.

The only issue with Sandoval going to Detroit is his price tag.  The Tigers probably won’t want to spend all of their money on one position, let alone one player considering that they have needs all over the place.

While it’s very early in baseball’s offseason, prepare to hear continuous rumors and stories on where Pablo Sandoval may end up in 2015.  He could, and very well seems like, he’s going east, taking the money that he’s proven he’s worth.

That is unless the Giants decide to pony up the cash to keep the Panda in the ballpark by the Bay, which would make sense considering, well, they have that dynasty thing going for them now.

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