Pablo Sandoval has openly admitted that did not leave the San Francisco Giants on good terms, noting that he took less money to sign with the Boston Red Sox because he felt “disrespected” by his former team.
“I knew early in spring training last year I was going to leave,” Sandoval told Scott Miller of Bleacher Report earlier this week. “They didn’t respect my agent. Contract talks, everything. The way Brian Sabean (Giants general manager) talked to my agent.”
Former MLB first baseman Aubrey Huff, who was Sandoval’s teammate with the Giants from 2010 through 2012, was offended by the 28-year-old third baseman’s remarks. Huff took to Facebook to blast Sandoval.
“I’m pretty sure their (sic) wasn’t a tear shed on behalf of all the players, and the coaches when he signed with Boston,” Huff wrote, via ESPNBoston.com. “It has always been about Pablo. He had the fans fooled but not the players! One of the biggest reasons he didn’t want to come back is because the Giants made him workout on the treadmill every day! Pretty sure that was a driving force for him! Never the less [sic] he could have always been a legend in San Fran but ego always will come in to play when it comes to Pablo! Sorry for the rant just want to take up for the players who are there now holding their tongues, because they don’t want to get in the middle of this! If you can’t get along with guys like (Buster) Posey, (Madison) Bumgarner, (Matt) Cain, (Jeremy) Affeldt (sic), just to name a few, then maybe it’s time to look in the mirror! Rant over!”
Those were some pretty strong words from Huff, and Sandoval kept it simple when asked about them on Friday.
“Who is Aubrey Huff?” he asked. “What is important here is to see where the person who made those comments is, and where I am now, that’s what counts.”
Huff retired in 2012 when the Giants declined his $10 million option for the 2013 season. He now works as an assistant varsity baseball coach at Canyon Crest Academy in San Diego. In fairness, he is 10 years older than Sandoval.
Sandoval has been listening to critics all offseason, particularly because of this unflattering photo that surfaced from spring training. He hasn’t done himself any favors with his mouth. Red Sox fans are hoping Sandoval shuts some people up with his bat.
