The Boston Red Sox introduced Pablo Sandoval on Tuesday during a news conference after finalizing his five-year, $95 million contract. General Manager Ben Cherington and CEO Larry Lucchino accompanied Sandoval earlier today.
Hanley Ramirez, who also agreed to a contract with the Red Sox on Monday, will be introduced at a news conference later today. Sandoval came first at the Fenway Park news conference. The details of his contract were made known today, which also includes a club option for a sixth season at $17 million with a $5 million buyout. Sandoval is expected to play third base for the Red Sox.
The 28-year-old spent his first seven seasons with the San Francisco Giants and won three World Series titles in 2010, 2012 and 2014. For his career, the switch-hitter is slashing .294/.346/.465 with 106 home runs and 462 RBIs. He was also MVP of the 2012 World Series, during which he batted .500 (8-for-16) with three home runs and four RBIs. Sandoval's postseason numbers are perhaps what impressed the Red Sox the most; in 39 career games he's compiled a .344/.389/.545 stat line with six home runs and 20 RBIs.
"Pablo was a primary target of ours to start the offseason," Cherington said at the news conference. "He really embodies a lot of what we care about. This is a guy that has been a big winner. He's been a performer when it counts the most. He's respected as a teammate, loves to play and we think really fits what we're all about here and we're really looking forward to having him in a Red Sox uniform in the middle of our lineup for years to come."
On the West Coast, the Los Angeles Dodgers made another trade this offseason, this time acquiring pitcher Juan Nicasio from the Colorado Rockies for a player to be named or cash. The Dodgers needed another starter to complete their five-man rotation and they will apparently have Nicasio and Mike Bolsinger (acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks last week) compete for the final spot.
The 28-year-old Nicasio is 21-22 in 69 career starts to go along with a 5.03 ERA and 1.46 WHIP. Bolsinger, 26, made his debut last year and was 1-6 with a 5.50 ERA in 10 appearances (nine starts). Both will now pitch in Dodger Stadium, which is much more pitcher-friendly that Coors Field (Rockies) and Chase Field (D-Backs) - primarily hitter ballparks. Perhaps executives Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi believe these two have the potential to succeed in a different setting.
But the offseason won't end there for Los Angeles. The team is still looking to trade one of their expensive outfielders, who include Matt Kemp, Carl Crawford and Andre Ethier. More moves are likely to come during the winter meetings that will take place from December 7-11.
