The Red Sox might be pulling ahead in the race for Pablo Sandoval.
A major league source indicated the Red Sox’ five-year, $95 million offer may
be in the lead over Sandoval’s offers from the San Francisco Giants and the
San Diego Padres.
It’s not certain whether any of the teams have offered a sixth-year option.
Sandoval would like to make a decision soon. He visited the Red Sox Monday and
Tuesday and came away with an offer.
The switch-hitting third baseman, considered one of the top hitters in the fre
e agent pool, is coming off his third World Series title with the Giants over
the last five seasons and surely improved his market value by hitting .366 in
the postseason.
The Red Sox are seeking stability at third base, and the 28-year-old Sandoval
would provide that, as well as give the lineup another lefthanded presence to
go with 39-year-old DH David Ortiz.
Sandoval hit .317 against righthanded pitching last season, and in his career
is hitting .303 from the left side. Of his 106 career home runs, 88 have come
against righties (83 percent).
Though Sandoval hit .199 from the right side in 2014, he hits lefties at a .27
1 clip for his career.
During an interview with a San Francisco radio station on Thursday, Giants ass
istant general manager Bobby Evans expressed hope that Sandoval, one of the mo
re popular Giants players, would return to the Bay Area, He also said Sandoval
was likely to make his decision before Thanksgiving.
Sandoval declined the Giants’ qualifying offer of $15.3 million for the 2015
season.
The Toronto Blue Jays were also believed to have sincere interest in signing S
andoval, but GM Alex Anthopoulos said Thursday he had not made any other free
agent offers other than signing catcher Russell Martin this week.
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