Report: Sandoval would 'love' to return to Giants
Home may be where the heart is for Pablo Sandoval.
The former All-Star third baseman, who's currently in limbo after the Boston Red Sox designated him for assignment on Friday, has reportedly told friends he would "love" to return to the San Francisco Giants, where he spent his first seven big-league seasons, according to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports.
Giants general manager Bobby Evans wouldn't comment on whether the interest is mutual, according to Heyman, citing the fact that Sandoval remains under contract with Boston.
Sandoval became a beloved figure during his stint in the Bay Area, when he manned the hot corner for the Giants' World Series championships in 2010, 2012, and 2014, and was the MVP of the 2012 series after his record-tying three homers in Game 1 against Detroit.
Over 869 regular-season games with San Francisco, Sandoval posted an .811 OPS and 106 home runs, while making two All-Star appearances.
But the "Kung Fu Panda" era of Giants baseball came to a bitter end when he reached free agency and signed his now infamous five-year, $95-million deal with Boston. During his first spring training with the Red Sox in March 2015, he took several shots at his old club in an interview with Bleacher Report's Scott Miller.
"I knew early in spring training last year I was going to leave," Sandoval told Miller. "They didn't respect my agent. Contract talks, everything. The way (then-GM) Brian Sabean talked to my agent.
"I left money on the table in San Francisco. It is not about money. It is about how you treat the player."
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Sandoval's Red Sox tenure came to an inglorious end after he was DFA'd Friday while on a rehab assignment. He's still owed another $48.66 million over the remaining two-plus years of his contract, which will be covered by the Red Sox unless he's claimed on waivers.
Related: Sandoval owed 2nd-largest amount of 'dead money' ever after DFA
The 30-year-old hit just .237/.286/.360 with 14 homers over 161 games with Boston. He's appeared in just 35 games combined during the last two seasons combined.