Free agent target: Pablo Sandoval
With the baseball free agency period right around the corner, the Red Sox have already made their first major step by bringing back closer Koji Uehara on a 2-year deal. In addition to bolstering the starting pitching, the Red Sox also need another big bat offensively, and preferably a left-handed one. Who fits this bill better than impending free agent Pablo Sandoval, third baseman for the World Series champion San Francisco Giants? He is set to hit the open market in several days and it’s expected he will land a big pay day somewhere. Still only 28 years old, Sandoval owns a career slash line of .294/.346/.465 with 106 home runs and 462 RBI over 869 games spanning seven years. In addition to his very solid line during the regular season, Sandoval has had great postseason success in 10 career series played, boasting a line of .344/.389/.545 with six home runs and 20 RBI in 39 games.
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With third baseman Will Middlebrooks falling out of favor with a Red Sox team looking to bolster a position from which they received lackluster offense last season, Sandoval is a very intriguing name as he fits much of what the Red Sox are looking for in terms of offense. Being only 28 years of age, a five to six-year deal is highly doable and given how the Red Sox have lots of money available to spend they could easily offer what he will likely to command and perhaps then some.
The only obstacles in the way of signing him will be whether he wants to remain in San Francisco, the only Major League club he has played for, and how aggressive the Giants go after him if they want to retain him.
When all is said and done, I expect the Red Sox to be very aggressive with Sandoval and I expect they will do what they can to sign him; this means giving him a long-term contract and giving him what he wants financially. Bringing in Sandoval would not only improve the Red Sox offense but would provide some protection in the middle of the lineup. Signing Sandoval will also make Middlebrooks expendable, however, his trade value may be quite low.
Free agency is set to begin very shortly and for the Red Sox at least, it is expected to be quite active. What better way to get the ball rolling than signing Sandoval?