Remember Pablo Sandoval? He’s that former World Series MVP that the Boston Red Sox gave $100 million to before the 2015 season, and they essentially have nothing to show for it. Perhaps that will change in 2017.
Sandoval showed up to spring training last year very overweight, and there were reports that the Red Sox were not going to give him playing time until he slimmed down. The 30-year-old then suffered a season-ending shoulder injury, so it didn’t matter. And now, he appears to have gone on a diet.
ICYMI – Pablo Sandoval looks to be slimmed down and in great shape down in Fla – photo courtesy Alvaro Hernandez – #wbz #RedSox pic.twitter.com/YX2zNm1E3U
— Dan Roche (@RochieWBZ) December 6, 2016
All signs point to the Red Sox giving Sandoval one last chance to prove himself next season. In fact, Boston traded Travis Shaw — the man who essentially stole Sandoval’s job in spring training last year — to the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday as part of a deal for relief pitcher Tyler Thornburg.
The question, of course, is whether Sandoval can stay in shape. If you heard some of the disturbing things his former trainer said about him, you know Sandoval keeping weight off is hardly a given. But for now, it looks as if he is on the right track.
