The Kung Fu Panda courtship is about to begin.
The Boston Red Sox already have made contact with third baseman Pablo Sandoval’s representatives, a major league source told The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo. The sides reportedly plan to meet face-to-face at next week’s general managers meetings in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Joon Lee of the Over the Monster Red Sox blog, citing a source, reported Wednesday that the Red Sox had reached out to Sandoval’s reps. It’s unclear at this point how interested the Red Sox are in Sandoval’s services, but the 28-year-old certainly makes sense for Boston.
Sandoval hit .279 with 16 homers, 73 RBIs and a .739 OPS in 2014. The two-time All-Star really picked it up in October, though, hitting .366 (26-for-71) with an .888 OPS during the San Francisco Giants’ World Series championship run.
Sandoval’s postseason success isn’t anything new, either. He has hit .344 (53-for-154) with six homers, 20 RBIs and a .935 OPS in 39 career playoff games. The three-time World Series champion earned MVP honors in the 2012 Fall Classic.
The Red Sox’s third base situation is up in the air following a second consecutive disappointing season for Will Middlebrooks. Sandoval would boost Boston’s offense, though Chase Headley is another free-agent third baseman worth considering.
Cafardo suggests Sandoval’s next contract could max out at five years and $100 million. The slugger’s agent, Gustavo Vasquez, told Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle that his client is seeking a six-year deal on the open market.
The Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago White Sox and Giants are among the teams that appear most interested in Sandoval, according to Cafardo. The list is expected to grow.
Sandoval rejected a one-year, $15.3 million qualifying offer from the Giants, meaning any team who signs him would have to forfeit a draft pick to San Francisco.
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