Pablo Sandoval’s agent openly questioned the Boston Red Sox’s decision to start Travis Shaw at third base, but the recently demoted slugger doesn’t want people putting those words in his mouth.
“That’s my agent, it (doesn’t) come from me,” Sandoval told WEEI.com’s Ken Laird before Friday’s Red Sox-Toronto Blue Jays exhibition game in Montreal. “My agent, he can say whatever he wants. Like I said, his comment, not mine.”
Rick Thurman, Sandoval’s agent, told MLB.com’s Jon Heyman on Friday that if the Red Sox want to win, then “why leave the Ferrari in the garage?” But Sandoval, who said Thursday that Shaw winning the job was best for the Red Sox, echoed those sentiments one day later to Laird.
“I’m fine with that, nothing I can do,” Sandoval said of his benching. “I’m going to be ready and keep working hard to do the things the team needs. That’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to be prepared. Is it going to be my first time? Yeah. But I’m going to (do) the best that I can to be ready.”
Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and manager John Farrell both told Laird they appreciated Sandoval’s attitude and public comments. Dombrowski added that Sandoval, who’s in the second year of a five-year, $95 million contract, hadn’t requested a trade from Boston.
Thumbnail photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Images
