Pablo Sandoval shockingly has a secret admirer these days.
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports the third baseman is being scouted by the San Diego Padres, and the scout will be monitoring Sandoval for “the next couple of days.”
The scout is there to give the once dynamic slugger a look-see after he went down with a back injury, per Cafardo, who notes the Padres have struggled to find help at third base for some time.
Back in his heyday with the San Francisco Giants, Sandoval was a clutch performer who could always be counted on to make the big play. He was also an exceptionally nimble fielder at the hot corner for a big man.
He ended up signing a big free agent deal with the Boston Red Sox last year, which averages $19 million per season. Unfortunately he showed up to spring training extremely out of shape and never got into his groove. Missing 36 games throughout the campaign, he batted .245 with just 10 home runs and 47 RBI.
Sandoval showed up to spring training in even worse shape this year, though apparently he worked hard to get to where he was at — a shocking thought, indeed.
Still, if he can work himself back into shape then perhaps Sandoval is the best option for the Padres. The Red Sox have reportedly been in touch with the Padres about James Shields, who could potentially be the other movable part in any deal between the two clubs.