Sandoval may come back but not go home
Panda could stay a Giant, but a return to Venezuela isn’t likely
Pablo Sandoval is caught between worlds.
Against all odds, he came home to the Giants this season. Against all hope, he has not stepped foot in his home country of Venezuela in three years.
He does not like to speak publicly about the unrest in his country, about the displaced and impoverished, about the empty store shelves and the inherent danger of walking down the street when it’s known that you or your family members have something in the bank.
“It’s tough. It’s tough,” said Sandoval, prior to Saturday’s 2-1 win at Dodger Stadium. “To see all the things that happened to my country, you have to ask God to resolve all of it.”
Sandoval is resolved to play winter ball this offseason, which he feels he needs because he missed so much time over the past two seasons. First, there was shoulder surgery that wiped out his 2016 season. Then there was a knee injury this year, followed by the lengthy limbo between the termination of his disappointing tenure with the Boston Red Sox and the surprising lifeline that the Giants threw to him in July.
He would like nothing better than to play for Magallanes, his team in Venezuela. There might not be a jersey that he has worn with more pride, other than the Vino Tinto of the national soccer team. He went out of his way to make at least a brief appearance with them in the offseason, and Magallanes continues to hold his rights in the major league offseason.
But it is simply not possible to go home. So Sandoval is trying to negotiate to transfer his rights to Charros de Jalisco, a Mexican Pacific League team that plays in Guadalajara. Toros del Este, a team in the Dominican Winter League, might be another possibility.
When the news of Sandoval exploring a winter assignment in Mexico was reported, he said he began hearing criticism from people back home.
“The situation changed a lot, but don’t get me wrong,” Sandoval said. “I love that team (Magallanes). People will say trash, and it’s tough. I’m the type of guy who hears everything. But you have to be professional and think the right way. You have to think of your family and their safety. It’s going to be important that I play.”
Sandoval said his family is in the U.S. now, and of course, that is not the case for every Venezuelan-born player in the major leagues. A few years ago, the Giants had a crowd of Venezuelan players including Marco Scutaro, Yusmeiro Petit, Gregor Blanco, Hector Sanchez and Jose Mijares. The current contingent is down to Sandoval, outfielder Gorkys Hernandez and pitcher Albert Suarez.
Sandoval, 31, had to confront the additional distraction of coming back to a place where he had torched all usable exits following the 2014 World Series, when he spurned the Giants to sign his five-year, $95 million contract with the Red Sox, and said he wouldn’t miss anyone there other than manager Bruce Bochy and Hunter Pence.
Now, 40 games into his return home, Sandoval said he is grateful for the support he has received both from fans and in the clubhouse.
Sources indicated the Giants have seen enough positives from Sandoval to forecast, at the very least, that he will have a locker in Scottsdale next spring. All else aside, he’s a virtually free player. The Giants will retain club options to keep him for the major league minimum salary next year and in 2019, with the Red Sox responsible for the rest.
“He gives you versatility,” Bochy said of Sandoval, whose recent hot stretch only boosted his slash line to a .213/.253/.346 in 40 games. “To be honest, he’s played a good third base. At first base, he’s done a real good job, too.”
Sandoval said he makes no assumptions that the Giants will exercise their option to bring him back, even if it’s looking extremely likely.
“I’ll be happy to be back here, but it’s not my decision,” he said. “I just want to do all I can to be healthy and ready for spring training, and (winter ball) will be important.”
• Madison Bumgarner flashed his best stuff in 13 starts since returning from his separated shoulder in the Giants’ 2-1 victory Saturday. He hit 94 mph, buzzed his cutter on the hands of opposing hitters, took a shutout into the eighth inning and held the Dodgers to five hits.
He and Hunter Strickland each survived a hard-hit out to right field, and Sam Dyson recorded the save in a tense ninth inning as the Giants won for just the fourth time this season in a game started by their staff ace.