When Pablo Sandoval signed with the Boston Red Sox earlier this offseason, it came as a bit of a shock, considering Sandoval’s history with the Giants and the reports that San Francisco had made him a better offer than what he ended up getting from Boston.
On a Tuesday appearance on MLB Network radio, Sandoval confirmed that he didn’t let the Giants make the final offer, and that he did leave money on the table to sign with the Red Sox.
“No. I left more money out there. I didn’t let the Giants make the final offer,” Sandoval said. “I just wanted to get out and try new things, try a new challenge. I just want to be a part of a new challenge.”
Sandoval signing with the Red Sox spurred the Giants to acquire Casey McGehee from the Marlins in exchange for a pair of minor leaguers.
Giants assistant GM Bobby Evans confirmed Sandoval’s story, and said that the club would have been willing to increase their offer to keep him in town.
“We told him that we were at $95 million and that we had a little more in the tank… and he did opt to accept the Red Sox offer without allowing us to make that final move,” Evans said on KNBR Tuesday. “He could have gotten a little bit more from us… he opted to take the deal with Boston.”
I don’t know if McGehee will be able to replicate Sandoval’s production at the hot corner in 2015, but he’ll end up costing the Giants a lot less both in 2015 and through the five years that Sandoval’s contract with the Red Sox runs. Now, the Giants have some extra money in the bank they can use to improve their club in future offseasons after a quiet winter this year.
