Pablo Sandoval’s impressive playoff track record will make him an attractive target this offseason.
Sandoval is set to become a free agent after the San Francisco Giants wrap up their World Series showdown with the Kansas City Royals. Peter Gammons wrote Monday that general managers across Major League Baseball don’t believe San Francisco will let Sandoval walk away, but one member of the Giants’ ownership group told Gammons on Sunday there’s a “swelling thinking” the Boston Red Sox will sign the 28-year-old.
“The bigger the stage, the better he plays,” one Giants official told Gammons. “He would love Boston.”
Sandoval, who was an All-Star in 2011 and 2012, hit .279 with 16 homers and 73 RBIs in 157 regular-season games this season. He’s hitting .338 (22-for-65) with an .816 OPS this postseason, again showing he’s a stud in the clutch.
Sandoval, who earned World Series MVP honors in 2012, is looking to guide the Giants to their third title in five seasons. He’s hitting .331 (49-for-148) with six homers, 20 RBIs and a .905 OPS in 37 career playoff games.
The Red Sox’s 2015 third base situation is unclear. Will Middlebrooks, Garin Cecchini and Brock Holt are among the internal candidates for Boston’s third base job, though the Sox certainly could look outside for help.
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