When veteran infielder Pablo Sandoval signed a non-roster deal with the Giants last month, it was reported that the deal was not meant to be a ceremonial end to the 37-year-old’s storied career akin to the deal right-hander Sergio Romo took with the club before retiring last spring. Rather, Sandoval hoped that the deal could be a stepping stone toward returning to the majors. After the Kung Fu Panda slashed just .250/.323/.250 without a single extra-base hit in 16 games with the club this spring, it appears unlikely that will come to pass for the time being. That still doesn’t mean that Sandoval has any intention of retiring, however. As relayed by MLB.com’s Henry Schulman, Sandoval has indicated that he intends to keep playing even if he does not make the major league roster in San Francisco to open the season. Instead, he intends to report to Triple-A Sacramento and play for the Giants in the minor leagues.
A veteran of 14 big league seasons who last played in the majors back in 2021, Sandoval is a two-time All Star who earned World Series MVP honors with the Giants in 2012 while also playing a key role during the club’s championship seasons in 2010 and 2014. Sandoval initially departed San Francisco to sign in Boston prior to the 2015 season, but that disastrous contract saw him released partway through the 2017 campaign. He returned to the Giants afterward and enjoyed a pair of resurgent seasons with the club in 2018 and 2019 as he slashed .259/.311/.466 in a combined 200 games. His most recent big league appearances came with the Braves, with whom he hit .178/.302/.342 in 69 games in a bench role three seasons ago.
While Sandoval clearly intends to continue his professional career into his age-37 campaign, it’s unclear what the Giants’ plans are regarding their World Series hero at this point. Indeed, Sandoval noted to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area yesterday that he has not yet discussed his plan to continue playing in the minor leagues with Giants brass. Even so, Sandoval emphasized to Pavlovic that he has no intention of hanging up the cleats at this point. “Everyone thinks I’m retired,” Sandoval said (per Pavlovic). “I’m not retired.”
More from around the NL West:
- Sticking with the Giants, the club made a surprising move yesterday by re-assigning right-hander Mason Black to the minor leagues, as noted by MLB.com’s Maria I. Guardado. While the right-hander’s 6.97 ERA in 10 1/3 innings of work with the Giants this spring certainly presents a clear case for the 24-year-old starting the season in Triple-A, the move came just over a week after manager Bob Melvin indicated to reporters that the club was likely to turn to Black as a member of their Opening Day rotation. Of course, San Francisco’s rotation plans were altered the very next day by the addition of reigning NL Cy Young award winner Blake Snell, but it’s still something of a shock to see Black sent to Triple-A given the club’s need for innings in the bullpen due to injuries suffered by Tristan Beck and Sean Hjelle this spring. Instead, it appears the long relief role will be offered to non-roster veteran Daulton Jefferies, who impressed with a 2.57 ERA in 14 innings during camp.
- The Diamondbacks will begin the season without outfielder Randal Grichuk, who manager Torey Lovullo confirmed will begin the season on the injured list to reporters (including Alex Weiner of AZ Sports) earlier today. That’s hardly a surprise, as Grichuk did not make it into game action this spring while rehabbing from offseason surgery to remove bone spurs from his ankle. Upon signing with Arizona last month, Grichuk indicated that the issues wasn’t expected to cause a lengthy absence, adding that if he were to miss Opening Day due to the issue he may be ready to return as soon as a week into the regular season. The 32-year-old veteran slashed a roughly league average .267/.321/.459 in 118 trips to the plate in Colorado and Anaheim last year and is slated to act as a right-handed complement to the likes of Corbin Carroll, Alek Thomas, and Joc Pederson in Arizona’s outfield mix this year.
- While the Dodgers are set to turn to veteran superstar Mookie Betts and second baseman Gavin Lux up the middle this season, manager Dave Roberts told reporters (including Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times) yesterday that veteran shortstop Miguel Rojas will get some starts at short as well, at least against left-handed pitching. On those days, Betts will slide over to second base and push Lux to the bench. While Robert emphasized that the situation won’t be a strict platoon, Lux’s career .586 OPS against same-handed pitching and Rojas’s strong defense at shortstop make sitting Lux against certain southpaws in order to improve the club’s infield defense a sensible strategy. Rojas, 35, hit a paltry .236/.290/.322 in 124 games with the Dodgers last year but slashed a much more respectable .286/.331/.406 in 145 trips to the plate against lefties.
Love the Panda but really no need to interrupt development of AAA guys with a 37 year old on the roster.
Could work into something of a player/coach role where he could mentor Luciano.
Not seeing it. Pablo’s greatest skills are natural and not really something that can or even should be taught. Ambidextrous free swingers that can barrel up bad pitches are anomalies. Things that can be taught like conditioning are actually his weak spot. Great attitude and joy for the game though, that can rub off.
Not thinking so much physical coaching as imparting the mental aspects of the game. Being a veteran presence,especially for the young Hispanic players. .
John I agree that Sandoval would be a good mentor in AAA. Not just for any specific race though. I don’t think in racial terms. I’m just thinking any young players smart enough to learn.
Agree totally. Just meant that for these young players being in a new country it can be helpful to have a mentor.
Being a veteran doesn’t suddenly make the guy a good mentor. Remember, this is the same Panda that repeatedly turned up to spring training out of shape – most notably when he banked a big contract.
Unfortunately for Sandoval the league will tell him when he’s retired.
Betts has looked horrible at SS so far and i imagine this will be a short lived experiment
In all honesty Sandoval retired the moment he signed that contract with Boston. Since then he’s just sort of been functionally hanging around baseball.
I mean a member of “the league” signed him to a contract that a few months ago.
A minor league invite to spring training that he wasn’t actually paid for isn’t the same as paying to play in either MLB or AAA
I have been saying Lux is mid for years. Doyers finally owning up to it.
He’s a bat first INF which aren’t nearly as common as the slick-fielding all-glove no stick variety that bounce around the league like pinballs. He’s much better suited for 2B, so it’s pretty clear at this point LAD will be dealing for an actual SS in June or July.
Aside from the first 3 guys, which Dodger hitters would scare anyone? The hype around this team, once again, is absurd …
Muncy’s power is intriguing but not enough to not worry about him striking out 3 out of every 4 trips to the plate.
The pitching may be the weakest we’ve seen from them during this stretch of playoff runs. It’s a tall order asking Glasnow and Paxton to anchor a staff waiting for other injury prone pitchers to return
I’m anything but a Dodger fan, but a lot of teams would take the 104 HRs hit last year by Smith, Hernandez, Outman and Muncy.
Buehler, a cy young candidate before his injury, will be back within a month. Bobby Miller is one of the best young starter arms in the NL. Yamamoto had a terrible debut but his stuff is so good there’s no reason to think he won’t develop into a very good starter. Stone and Sheehan are great young arms on top of it. Fan graphs literally just ranked their rotation #1 based too on how much depth it has.
As for the lineup, how can there not be a “drop” from the top 3 MVP guys, but will smith is one of the top 3 offensive catchers in baseball the past 5 years, Muncy not only hits a ton of home runs but gets on base so much the Ks aren’t an issue, the have NL ROY 3rd place finisher Outman and a resurgent Heyward alongside Teoscar (who Ks a lot but mashes lefties, but if he fails they have Andy Pages waiting), and while Lux’s D is suspect he can hit especially against righties. Oh and they have guys like Chris Taylor and Kiké on the bench. Certainly games aren’t won on paper, guys can slump and who knows what will actually happen. But scouts rank this team pretty high for a reason, even if Joe Armchair fan who mostly pays attention to their own teams doesn’t get the hype.
Also I’d argue their pitching last year, devastated by injury and basically forced to throw out a Lance Lynn in the playoffs, will be far worse than whatever happens this year. 😉
Buehler won’t be himself til next year, if then. Yamamoto is unproven. Spots 4-9 in the lineup underperform in the postseason, as have Betts & Freeman. Not moved, sorry.
So far Yamamoto is a bust. Until proven otherwise
Against the Giants he’s batting 1.000 in 200 plate appearances with 200 home runs
I’m definitely not a dodger fan. Nothing besides the padres winning would please me more than the dodgers losing.
With that said this statement is crazy talk. While the dodgers only have 3 superstars the rest of that lineup is still a task to get through. There are definitely some outs in there but they also grind out at bats. All it takes is them to turn that lineup back over to the top with a runner or two on and it becomes a real issue. Plus people underestimate how good of a hitter smith is.
Pitching wise there are some issues atm but glasnow is very good when healthy. Miller has about as good of a young arms as there is in the game. Yamamoto struggled badly, we shall see on him but his stuff is still very good and will likely figure it out. They will get some guys back that will bolster that staff as the year goes on as well.
The biggest flaw I’ve seen so far is that defense. Especially in that infield.
I wouldn’t go as far as calling this team a super team. I do still fully expect them to win 100 plus games.
Everyone in their starting lineup had an OPS+ above 100 last year outside of Lux. Keep hating
Still got swept in the playoffs. Who cares?
Ohtani and Teoscar weren’t on the team? You said their lineup after the top 3 doesn’t scare anyone. It’s still a solid group. And guess what, it doesn’t need to light the leauge on fire with how much the top 3 kills teams. We saw it the first two games.
Another season of delusion. I almost feel bad for you. Almost.
What delusion? They will win the west and be there in October. What happens then is yet TBD. I don’t think they are some lock for a championship. You’re just a pathetic hater hating on every aspect of the team. If they did win the title you would say it was bought or should have been won in fewer games
Just giving you a dose of reality…
Even if you want to discredit 2020 they played for the championship in 2017 and 2018 with weaker rosters. That happened in reality. So explain to us how they have no chance enlightened one. Braves are seen as their biggest competition and they choked the last two years also.
Neon you are such a sad little troll. Lighten up.
Wrong PAs for grichuk
471
Panda could be injury insurance,backup catcher relief pitcher and PH.
That’s a lot of injuries. He hasn’t caught or pitched in years. We’re in deep doodoo if he is behind the plate or on the mound.
Right, at this point he could still get into a squat. Getting out of one, not so much!
They sent down Sabol and now have Panda waiting in the wings for when they play Verlander and the Astros.
Just kidding but Pablo looks svelte this spring!
Svelte and happy. It’s been good to see.
Panda had a good run , was a good story both on and off the field. He should control when he retires , but nobody in control should allow another MLB AB unless the zombies roaming the streets in SF infect the whole roster.
Pandavol is awesome
Timmeh!
Its just triple A. Development stops at Double-A for real prospects anyway. He’s not blocking anyone at triple-A.
Every at bat is needed for a guy like Casey Schmitt. He needs a whole new approach.
If Chapman opts out, he needs to be ready.
AA team is in Virginia. AAA team is 90 miles away in Sacramento. Staff can easily drive 2 hours to check readiness. We’re talking progress of guys who played last year in SF. Yes, prospects develop in AA Richmond. Schmitt, Luciano, Sabol, Meckler, Black, Beck (rehabbing), Whisenhunt, etc. Those guys will be blocking progress of prospects. Sandoval would keep the several players I listed, and more, from improving. And Melvin has brought back several instructors that are available for Sac. Wotus, Righetti. Baker lives in Sac. Developing occurs in AA yes. Fine tuning occurs in Sacramento down I80
True though at what point do the giants turn the page. Even 2021 which was a great year for the giants they had posey leading the way and he had a monster year.
Is the next core group ready to start winning. The current core group is mainly headlined by free agents which rarely works out. I think if the giants are going to be really good they will need the younger guys to take a step forward. Guys like Bailey, Harrison ect.
Pablo stunk in 2014. He wasn’t on the postseasonroster
Time to retire Sandoval and pass the fork…eerr I mean torch to Vogelbach.
Sean Hjelle hasn’t done anything at any level to deserve a spot on the 40 man. Next time I hear his name it better be in relation to being dfa’d to make room for someone more deserving.
Dude, he’s tall.
Sorry, that’s all I got. You’re right.
Demands, demands, demands.
Black’s 6.97 ERA in 10 games sucks. Doesn’t mean that the pitcher, himself will suck in the grand scheme, but it does mean he got passed on the chain by Daulton Jefferies.
Black will probably be up at some point this year; in the meantime, he can get some good reps in AAA.
He’ll pitch in game 5. Jeffries didn’t “pass” him. He has MLB experience. So he’s on the team and would have been even with Black there as well. They have 12 pitchers currently. Will go with 13 for game 5.
Good call. Zaidi is big on the opening day roster composition meaning SFA.
Fopp, I’m slow this morning I guess. SFA is ?
Ha ha. Oops. That might be an Australian thing. Sweet Fark All. Nothing.
I had the F but definitely not the s and a
It’s shocking that a pitcher with a near 7 ERA who has time available to develop further is sent to AAA?
Considering the narrative this Spring from the Giants, yes. Not jaw dropping shocking, but has certainly surprised a few that follow and listen closely.
Melvin might be the most overrated manager in MLB!!