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Report: Padres to make contract offer to Pablo Sandoval

Kyle Terada / USA TODAY Sports

A.J. Preller has tirelessly explored ways to improve his club since taking over as general manager of the San Diego Padres on Aug. 6, and the newly hired executive is reportedly set to take an aggressive shot at one of this winter's top free agents.

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, the Padres will make a contract offer to third baseman Pablo Sandoval on Friday, just days after the 28-year-old left Boston following a set of meetings with Red Sox executives. Several other teams have also been identified as suitors for the two-time All-Star, including the Toronto Blue Jays and San Francisco Giants, with whom he has spent his entire seven-year career.

Two officials have characterized Preller's recent efforts as "all over the map," as he tries to bolster a franchise that hasn't managed a winning record since 2010. Sandoval, meanwhile, would immediately improve an offense that scored fewer runs than every other MLB team last season and managed a measly .634 on-base-plus-slugging percentage.

Though the Padres aren't renowned for their financial girth, some industry officials believe they're prepared to open their wallets for a player like Sandoval, who posted a 111 OPS+ last season and boasts a career .284/.355/.487 line in 53 games at spacious Petco Park.

"They definitely are willing to spend some money," one rival executive told Rosenthal.

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