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| Sandoval now a Red Sox. Photo Credit: Greg M. Cooper/USA Today Sports |
Recent new Red Sox signee Pablo Sandoval revealed just why he chose to leave the confines of San Francisco for Fenway Park in Boston.
By: Michael Hanley
Coming off inking a brand new five year, $95 million contract with Boston, Sandoval revealed to the media just why he wanted to become a Boston Red Sox (Via Dayn Perry, CBS Sports):
"I want a new challenge …" Sandoval said before the assembled media. "I need a new challenge."
It is very understandable why he wanted to move onto a new team and see if he can accomplish more with them in the future. If he had stayed in San Francisco, yes he would have been loved and revered for doing so and could possibly have added maybe another championship or two and be the face of the franchise for a few more years but he already accomplished a lifetime's worth of goals with the Giants.
Sandoval helped win three World Series titles, won MVP of the World Series in 2012 and had established himself and endeared himself to the Giants fan base as one of their all time favorites. There was not much more he could accomplish that would top his already long list of high honors and achievements.
The only thing that could have happened was Sandoval's legacy taking a downfall of some sort if he had a few off years offensively or if he got hurt and could not fully perform with the team etc. Allot more bad could have happened than good if he had stay.
Plus think about it from his perspective, this might be the only time he got to test himself on the open market where in which he had his best negotiating power coming off another electric postseason performance. If he had wanted to avoid free agency and try it maybe in a few years down the road, chances are he would not be getting nearly the contract he received from Boston. This was a once in a career type of opportunity for him to get a big contract and do it with a big time club in a baseball crazy market like Boston.
For the Red Sox this has been quite the last couple of days in their off season. Having now picked up Sandoval in addition to Hanley Ramirez, they have solved two problems.
First their lineup just got a whole lot more potent with those two manning the middle of that lineup. Both are power hitters who can swing with the best of them but also be able to use all parts of the ballpark and spray their hits to all fields. This greatly enhances an offense that was bereft of power hitting and consistent offense from the heart of their order.
Opposing pitchers will now have to pick their poison as to which player they want to walk and which one they want to pitch to. This too should help the rest of the lineup as they will get better pitches to see and hit and draw walks to set the table for Sandoval and Ramirez to drive them in.
The second thing these acquisitions help with is outfield depth. The reports from Boston are that Hanley Ramirez will play in left field everyday, increasing the options manager John Farrell has to pick from on any given game day.He will be to mix and match a little bit more now and give guys a breather once in a while to keep them fresh for the stretch run later in the regular season.
It also presents an opportunity when the trade deadline comes around in late July that the Red Sox can position themselves to add an important piece to whatever part of the team they feel needs an upgrade and could help them make a run at the postseason.
Though it cost allot for Boston to get both Ramirez and Sandoval it could prove to be money well spent if they can help the franchise get back to winning ways, especially come October. Boston has more work to do in terms of remaking their team into a contender with upgrades needed in their starting rotation, they have already started this off season with a bang and could seal it if they are able to land a big time starting pitcher like a Cole Hamels who reportedly they are in pursuit in along with the Dodgers.
Christmas is still a month away but the Red Sox have already gotten some big early gifts that will be hard to top in this MLB off season.
Follow me on Twitter: @Magic20099
