Pablo Sandoval Says Red Sox Didn’t Ask Him To Lose Weight

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.

Pablo Sandoval Says Red Sox Didn’t Ask Him To Stay In Shape

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.”

“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.

Caption: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)