Giants GM open to Sandoval reunion

Don't rule out a potential Panda sighting in San Francisco.

Struggling third baseman Pablo Sandoval, who was designated for assignment by the Red Sox on Friday, infamously slammed the Giants in 2015 after he bolted the Bay Area for Boston and a five-year, $95-million contract. It therefore seemed unlikely that an eventual reunion with San Francisco would be in the cards.

However, Giants general manager Bobby Evans, who was promoted to the position just months after Sandoval left as a free agent, admitted the franchise could have their eye on signing the former slugger - who won three World Series during his time in San Francisco - despite all that was said.

"I don't know what ultimately what the Red Sox are going to do and we'll just have to see how that plays out," Evans said on MLB Network Radio. "I don't think that any of us felt particularly brunt by his comments. I think that we all know him and we all didn't wear anything personally from his departure.

"But I can't really say, I mean I don't really know what Boston is going to do. And we do have third base locked up right now. I mean of course (Eduardo) Nunez has been talked about by a lot of clubs, and so we'll see how that plays out. But we'll just have to take it day to day I guess."

Related: 3 potential landing spots for Pablo Sandoval

After signing with the Red Sox in 2014, Sandoval thoroughly failed to live up to lofty expectations. Amid constant criticism surrounding his weight, along with lengthy spells on the sidelines due to injury, the 30-year-old appeared in just 161 games for Boston over three seasons, slashing .237/.286/.360.

A trip back to San Francisco - a move the slugger would reportedly love to make happen - could be the remedy to get Sandoval's career back on track. The hefty infielder was a fan favorite during his seven seasons with the Giants, when he slashed .294/.346/.465, slugged 106 home runs, and won the World Series MVP Award in 2012.