Boston Red Sox decision time nearing on Sandoval
By Rick McNair
The Boston Red Sox are facing a decision on just what options are available on Pablo Sandoval.
The Boston Red Sox are stuck and I do mean stuck with the contract of Pablo Sandoval. The CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) allows no apparent option to pull the plug and somehow saving some dough to be tossed at a legitimate player.
Panda came to Ft. Myers much in the same condition that he left Boston at the end of 2015 season. Management publicly said all the right things that would not make the delicate situation of conditioning and weight an issue. But a public display is one thing and what is said behind the closed doors of the evaluation bunker is another.
Sandoval has clearly displayed a lack of professionalism for showing up in camp in not exactly pristine condition. For what it is worth my own opinion and from what I have seen many others post is that Sandoval’s issues may go far deeper than just his weight. That can be the domain of Dr. Phil, but the domain of the fans is getting someone on third who can hit and provide adequate defense.
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Spring training is for getting in shape for the season and the veterans assured of a job go through certain motions knowing they have been to that rodeo many times and have job security either by a virtually guaranteed position or a contract that provides compensation that Johnny from Burger King will never see. Sandoval has everything to prove and the early results are a ditto of last season.
The early results on Panda are dismal. His bat is on vacation and his fielding is somewhere between atrocious to being a resurrection of Butch Hobson. The fans that see this generally are mesmerized by how someone so young and talented can be so foolhardy. Boos certainly are in the atmosphere at Jet Blue Park with Sandoval. And you think this is bad? Sandoval will certainly be patient zero in fan hostility if the Red Sox start out in the doldrums.
What options do the Red Sox have?
Forget anyone dealing for Sandoval or willing to assume even a smidgen of his contract. To be blunt – Sandoval is worthless in any attempt to recoup a player or money. Eventually, this could be a fine addition to Pawtucket, where Sandoval can join fellow millionaire Allen Craig to demonstrate what can possibly go wrong with long term contracts.
The Red Sox could give it a nice go and let Sandoval start the season and give him twenty or so games. Miracles do happen and maybe a baseball version of Lourdes is somewhere in the Boston vicinity and Sandoval can return to something that is a close imitation of an MLB player. I will not place any wagers on that happening.
The Red Sox could just pay him off. Sometimes a negotiated settlement is possible, but in all likelihood, Sandoval will get every last penny owed on his contract. The Red Sox willingly took the risk and with risk sometimes reward does not follow.
The best possible route is simply to place Sandoval on the disabled list. Panda gets paid, the Red Sox get a roster spot and Sandoval can attempt to get into game shape. I imagine this would require some clever dance moves on the part of Red Sox management as they attempt to justify placing someone on the DL for obesity, but that is something for the union, management and MLB to reach an accommodation beneficial to all.
Sandoval needs some help. If it is the psychological path they choose to take there are numerous examples from the Red Sox past history. The sensitivity towards Sandoval is one issue but the one paramount in Red Sox Nation is getting a player at third who will not kill the team once things get serious. Sometimes management must simply accept circumstances and move forward.
If Panda somehow manages to resurrect his image – best done by solid offensive and defensive production – he will have turned the tide just as John Lackey had gone from a dud to a sudden stud. Everyone loves a rehabilitation story and this one would be a five-star production.
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Fortunately, the Red Sox do have adequate replacement parts at third and I fully expect that when the season is finished Sandoval will not be a factor on this team.