Red Sox Sign Pablo Sandoval

[Bellhorn04]

I don't see a spot for Nava period. You have Hanley, Rusney and Betts as your projected starters with Victorino and Cespedes under contract. Right now, Nava is at best your 6th OFer, and that doesn't include Craig. I think Nava is on the A's next yr

 

I think the Sox are actively trying to trade Cespedes.

[Bellhorn04]

I don't think Nava gets traded for the simple reason that we are very short on LH bats.

[a700hitter]

I don't think Nava gets traded for the simple reason that we are very short on LH bats.

I think he stays because he has options and he is cheap.

[Spudboy]

How about a combination of value and need.

 

But if he were to be traded to the A's I'd love to see a deal for Scott Kashmere or however you spell it. I don't know what his contract status is. Seems the A's took a flier on him and scored a bargain.

 

I bet he would pitch great in Boston.

 

And while I'm posting ideas that will not happen, I'd like to see Marcus Strohman or Rick Porcello traded for!!!!

[Bellhorn04]

I think he stays because he has options and he is cheap.

 

Absolutely, his price tag, which is projected at $1.9 million this year, is a big part of the equation. They can't be spending big bucks at every position. You need some cheaper pieces.

[sk7326]

OF course, if we knew Josh Donaldson could be had for such little prospect heft ... sigh

[User Name]

OF course, if we knew Josh Donaldson could be had for such little prospect heft ... sigh

 

As i posted in another thread, apparently he whined about ownership and was traded to prove a point (per Josh Reddick). And also, that's actually quite a haul for Donaldson all things considered

[sk7326]

As i posted in another thread, apparently he whined about ownership and was traded to prove a point (per Josh Reddick). And also, that's actually quite a haul for Donaldson all things considered

 

Maybe - at the same time the Sox probably could have assembled something similarly worthwhile. Maybe not quite the ceiling of Lawrie but at least as much probability.

[SCM33]

You are going to hate this guy by the end of the contract, with the FO shamelessly selling anything with a Panda Bear on it.

 

Also, he is very sensitive about his weight. Translation? I know Im fat, Im not going to do anything about it because Im lazy......Im ok with being 300 pounds in 3 years.

 

Don't be surprised if you see something along the lines of this:

[Palodios]

You are going to hate this guy by the end of the contract, with the FO shamelessly selling anything with a Panda Bear on it.

 

Also, he is very sensitive about his weight. Translation? I know Im fat, Im not going to do anything about it because Im lazy

 

Pablo lost 42 pounds last offseason. His power went way down. He gained the weight back, and his power went up again. It seems like it isn't a lack of trying, it just seems like his optimal performance comes from being bulky.

 

The Panda hats are probably a big part of why they spent stupid money on him -- marketability.

[Behindenemylines]

Panda needs to come up big. He got big $$$$ and the Sox need both the O and the D from him. Sox got little pop out of 3B last year and with all of the ground ball pitchers his glove has to be up to the task.

[a700hitter]

It's nice to see that Panda arrived in Camp in top shape.

[Spudboy]

It's nice to see that Panda arrived in Camp in top shape.

 

If I posted a silhouette of Panda and one of myself next to his, you could not tell us apart.

[Spudboy]

If I posted a silhouette of Panda and one of myself next to his, you could not tell us apart.

 

Of course I hope he has one hell of a year!!! But if he doesn't, I'm gonna go all Fred on you all!!!!!!!!!

[St. Louis Carter]

If I posted a silhouette of Panda and one of myself next to his, you could not tell us apart.

 

He's not all that fat now (taken on Thursday) click to enlarge

 

 

Edited February 20, 2015 by St. Louis Carter

[sk7326]

To me with Panda the larger question is whether there is more power there. His career has always to me seemed to resemble a non-patient Wade Boggs. There is some actual raw power there (the 3 HR world series game) - but his spray charts seem to show a guy who chose going the other way and contact over raking.

[Kimmi]

Of course I hope he has one hell of a year!!! But if he doesn't, I'm gonna go all Fred on you all!!!!!!!!!

 

LOL Spud.

 

There has been so much made of his weight this ST. Is he heavier than he usually is when he comes to camp?

 

If not, then I don't get all the fuss. That's who he is.

[a700hitter]

LOL Spud.

 

There has been so much made of his weight this ST. Is he heavier than he usually is when he comes to camp?

 

If not, then I don't get all the fuss. That's who he is.

 

When your weight provides comedy material for Lettermen, it isn't a good thing for an athlete.

[Kimmi]

When your weight provides comedy material for Lettermen, it isn't a good thing for an athlete.

 

 

LOL, I saw that this morning. Funny stuff.

 

That said, if his weight is not affecting his performance, then it's not an issue. He has always been big. I don't know why the media is acting like his weight is something they didn't expect, unless he's a lot bigger this year than he's been in past years.

[User Name]

Pandas are fat. Let this Panda be fat. It's in their nature.

[Kimmi]

Pandas are fat. Let this Panda be fat. It's in their nature.

 

 

It's not like all baseball players are the epitomy of chiseled athletes anyway. He may not be as big girthwise as Panda, but Big Papi is, well, big.

[jacksonianmarch]

Big Papi doesn't have to play the field. Panda was signed for the total package. Let's just say there is minimal likelihood that this guy ages well. Take it from a fan of a team that gave bonkers money to a fat f*** and now are watching him implode

[a700hitter]

When you see Big Papi in person, you realize that he is not fat. He is just a big strong man. Even at his heaviest, he never had a gut like Panda. The knees give out prematurely on the overweight players, e.g. CC, Mo Vaughn.

[sk7326]

Big Papi doesn't have to play the field. Panda was signed for the total package. Let's just say there is minimal likelihood that this guy ages well. Take it from a fan of a team that gave bonkers money to a fat f*** and now are watching him implode

 

This sounds cute until you realize that (from both eye test and what has been written by scouting sorts) is that Panda is far, but a good athlete. (I've rooted for Vince Wilfork before, so I am not unfamiliar) Quick hands, feet. He's never going to be Tim Raines or Rickey Henderson or Billy Hamilton ... but like Tony Gwynn, his tubbiness does not mean he can't move.

[a700hitter]

This sounds cute until you realize that (from both eye test and what has been written by scouting sorts) is that Panda is far, but a good athlete. (I've rooted for Vince Wilfork before, so I am not unfamiliar) Quick hands, feet. He's never going to be Tim Raines or Rickey Henderson or Billy Hamilton ... but like Tony Gwynn, his tubbiness does not mean he can't move.

Gwynn was pudgy and soft, but Panda has about 40 lbs on Gwynn easily. The pounding on the joints is exponential as the weight increases.

[sk7326]

Gwynn was pudgy and soft, but Panda has about 40 lbs on Gwynn easily. The pounding on the joints is exponential as the weight increases.

 

Mr Wiki (I know, I know) had Gwynn at 225 and Panda at 240. Neither are ideal, but athleticism was reasonable in both cases. Fortunately Sandoval still has his youth - at least for a bit longer. I never loved the signing - but the reasons for optimism and the case to sign him were defensible.

[Spudboy]

That just sugar coats the central issue which is that fat people suffer diminishing health earlier in life.

 

No one here is saying that tub of goo can not play baseball. He is on an MLB team and has a $98. mil contract.

 

His body will break down much sooner than a person who is in much better shape. That is fact, unless he is some freak or anomaly.

 

And here is a point no one is mentioning. There is no reason fat boy can not lose 30-40 pounds and become even better. To deny this is just stupid. He makes the choice everyday to remain fat because he is too lazy to do anything about it.

 

Nonsense to anyone who claims that he plays better fat. That is just really, really stupid.

[a700hitter]

Mr Wiki (I know, I know) had Gwynn at 225 and Panda at 240. Neither are ideal, but athleticism was reasonable in both cases. Fortunately Sandoval still has his youth - at least for a bit longer. I never loved the signing - but the reasons for optimism and the case to sign him were defensible.

Published height and weight is usually fictional. Panda at his fattest is a good 40lbs bigger than Gwynn-- buy my eye test.

[a700hitter]

The Sox should have had a weight clause in his contract for the kind of money he is being paid. He could hire a top nutritionist, eat tasty food, not be hungry and get to a healthy weight.

[Spudboy]

The Sox should have had a weight clause in his contract for the kind of money he is being paid. He could hire a top nutritionist, eat tasty food, not be hungry and get to a healthy weight.

 

Yup. I speak as a fat bastard that is no longer physically able to exercise and I know that I can lose 40-50 pound by altering my diet alone.

 

A guy like him with all his resources, age, and athleticism could do it much easier. All he has to do is try.

 

I would have signed Headly.