Pablo Sandoval arrived at camp on Sunday and denied claims that the Boston Red Sox had asked him to lose weight, despite comments to the contrary from team officials throughout the offseason.
The 29-year-old infielder and third baseman played 126 games, batting .245 with 10 home runs and a .658 OPS, the first season of a five-year, $95-million deal with the Red Sox. His OPS (on-base plus slugging) dropped by nearly 100 points from .739, his mark during his final season with the San Francisco Giants.
Due to Sandoval’s disappointing debut in Boston, Manager John Farrell and President Dave Dombrowski made it clear during the offseason that fitness was an issue they were addressing with him. Sandoval played at a listed weight of 255 pounds in 2015.
“I don’t weigh. I don’t weigh in at all,” Sandoval said upon his arrival in Fort Myers, Fla. “I just do my work, try to do everything I can out there. I don’t weigh at all in the whole offseason. I just try to get better, be in a better position and, like I say, be an athlete.”
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!
A week of sports news in your in-box.
We find the sports news you need to know, so you don't have to.
“There were clear markers set out right at the end of the season on what the offseason goals were going to be, and playing weight was one of them,” Farrell said in January, adding that Sandoval had lost approximately 20 pounds.
The Red Sox finished last in the AL East with a 78-84 record.
BOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 8: Josh Donaldson #20 of the Toronto Blue Jays slides in to third as Pablo Sandoval #48 of the Boston Red Sox prepares to hit the tag in the tenth inning at Fenway Park on September 8, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
To add insult to injury, Sean McVay announced on Monday that the Los Angeles Rams…
The Panthers named Andy Dalton as their new starting quarterback earlier this week, relieving 2023…
Once known as the worst clutch quarterback in the NFL, Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins…
On Tuesday, the Miami Dolphins placed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on injured reserve with a concussion.…
The Chicago Bears learned the hard way last week that not all wins are pretty.…
Quarterback Daniel Jones has had to field multiple questions about negative Giants fans last week.…