Look out, Boston. There’s a Panda on the loose.
Pablo Sandoval arrived in Boston on Monday along with his brother, Michael, and his agent, Gustavo Vasquez. The third baseman is in town to visit with the Red Sox as he weighs his free agency decision.
The Red Sox and San Francisco Giants have been considered the most serious suitors for Sandoval’s services, but Vasquez told Joe Amorosino of WHDH on Monday that his client has five or six teams on his list right now.
Sandoval told Amorosino upon touching down at Logan Airport that he’s happy to be visiting Boston. The 28-year-old already has a good relationship with Red Sox slugger David Ortiz after the two met in 2008 chatted again during the Giants’ recent World Series run.
“I love being in this situation, you know. David is a good guy, I’ve been through a lot with him — the commercials and stuff — and all the rest,” Sandoval told WHDH. “He’s a great guy.”
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Sandoval just won his third World Series title with the Giants. The two-time All-Star again played a key role, particularly in the postseason. Sandoval is a .344 hitter (53-for-154) with six homers, 20 RBIs and a .935 OPS in 39 career playoff games. The Red Sox could turn to him to fill their glaring hole at third base.
“It can be Red Sox, can be any other uniform,” Michael Sandoval told WHDH. “The good part of this is he’ll get a chance to explore his value on the market, see who can really appreciate him and his work.”
Vasquez previously stated that his client was seeking a six-year contract in free agency, so it’ll certainly cost the Red Sox to land the switch-hitting Kung Fu Panda.
