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Red Sox: Five questions for the 2017 season

By Daniel Cassese

Sep 24, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval (48) against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval (48) against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 24, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval (48) works out prior the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval (48) works out prior the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

The story of Pablo Sandoval with the Red Sox has been written 100 times but bears repeating. Since his disaster of a season in 2015, he’s been public enemy number one in Red Sox nation. After striking out in 4 of 7 plate appearances last April, he underwent shoulder surgery that ended his season. The $95 million contract he signed two offseasons ago has been nothing short of disastrous, to say the least, but the Red Sox will hope to reclaim some of that value in 2017.

There is a legitimate possibility that third base becomes a black hole for the Sox this season. Sandoval deserves credit for reportedly losing 30 lbs in preparation of Spring Training, so kudos to him for that, but his problems extend further than his weight. His OPS has been consistently falling since falling over the last four years (.789, .758, .739, .658) and his defensive play fell off a cliff in 2015. Shedding the excess weight could improve his mobility at third and thus his defense, but expecting him to become the offensive weapon he once was is a longshot.

Brock Holt and Josh Rutledge are the major league replacements but neither are viable options to start at third on a daily basis. Then there’s Rafael Devers who is still at least a season away from making his major league debut. As it stands right now, third base is Sandoval’s position, and no one knows how it’s going to play out.

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