While the news may have been coming for a few days now (and even longer if you believed the rumors from a week ago), it’s now official that third baseman Pablo Sandoval is returning to the San Francisco Giants.
The Giants have signed Pablo Sandoval. He's headed to Class A San Jose, then he'll go to AAA Sacramento. It's official: The Panda is back.
— Kerry Crowley (@KO_Crowley) July 22, 2017
Sandoval will indeed begin his renaissance in the Bay in the state’s capitol, but it should be assumed he’ll have a shot at San Francisco’s hot corner before the Giants’ 2017 is over on October 1.
Objectively speaking, Sandoval’s 2017 in Boston wasn’t much better than his 2016 where he only managed to play in three games. So far this year, he has a .212 batting average and has struck out 24 times in 99 at bats.
The deal has yet to be officially released, but considering the Red Sox will be paying the rest of the $50 million on Sandoval’s current contract, combined with his incredible decrease in production over the past three seasons, it’s most likely the Giants only have Sandoval the veteran minimum.
At any rate, let the fun begin, The Panda is back!