15 July, 2017
On Friday, though, the Red Sox chose to cut ties with their expensive mistake. The Giants, who must be so relieved Sandoval passed on their identical offer in 2014 and therefore missed out on paying handsomely for a -2.0 WAR player since. Rafael Devers (18 home runs in Portland) could be a surprise call-up, or Dombrowski might look elsewhere, perhaps trading for Todd Frazier (15 home runs) of the White Sox. "Every series is crucial, but especially playing the Red Sox", said Yankees rookie sensation Aaron Judge, who leads the majors with 30 homers and won the Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game.
Wish number one for the second half of the Red Sox season is for good health for the starting rotation.
The Red Sox have ten days to try to trade Sandoval. Sandoval's deal may be a chilling specter in the minds of general managers when they scour the free-agent market, but it won't stop them from handing out $100 million or $200 million contracts.
The former All-Star and three-time World Series victor has had a disappointing career with the Sox since signing with Boston in 2015.
But Sandoval always seemed interested in going elsewhere, getting away from the bad memories of battling management over his weight issues. Sandoval was never going to look classically lean and fit, but when he showed up to spring training with a pudgy midsection, the worst fears of Red Sox fans were seemingly confirmed. Moments that the players and coaches on the teams will never forget. Nevertheless, Devers will play a big role in that decision. He's only batting.250 against lefties this season. OK, that was an improvement over Middlebrooks the year before, but the Red Sox were hoping for a bit more. He's actually improved a lot of that in Double A over the last time period.
It's been a busy week for the 20-year-old as he played in MLB's Futures Game in Miami on Sunday and the Double-A All-Star Game in New Hampshire on Wednesday. Matt Kemp's $160 million contract with the Dodgers is on its third team in five years and has totaled a meager 3.9 WAR thanks to his horrid defense in the outfield.
The issue at third base has been festering on the field for months.
If the Red Sox plan on vying for another World Series ring, the answer at third base will come from the outside.
The Red Sox have the best bullpen in baseball by RA9-WAR (FanGraphs' run-based WAR), with almost a full run lead over the Dodgers. Given that opportunity, he proceeded to hit.212/.269/.354 over 108 plate appearances, interrupted by knee problems that cost him all of May.
But that doesn't mean he won't be looking for another third baseman as the trade deadline draws near.
What's clear is that the Red Sox have moved on from Sandoval. "But I don't want to put it on his back that we're counting on him in a pennant race. But we thought it would be beneficial for him to see Triple A and be part of that and see how he adjusts to that".
