How Pablo Sandoval's Big Boston Deal Would Impact Red Sox, Giants

At this point it's hard to picture anyone but Pablo Sandoval manning third base for the San Francisco Giants, as he's been at the middle of it all during the team's recent run of success.

It's a reality that the team and its fans may soon have to accept, though, as an extension with the Giants is looking less and less likely for the 28-year-old free agent.

In fact, according to a recent report from Dennis O'Donnell of KPIX in San Francisco, the Boston Red Sox are now the heavy favorites to land him:

"

Sandoval was in Boston yesterday where I am told there is a 90 percent chance that he will sign with the Red Sox. The other 10 percent goes to the Toronto Blue Jays.

So what happened with the Giants? I’m told they were never his first choice, which is why he asked for seven years — a request the Giants were highly unlikely to accommodate. If the Giants want to get back in the race, they will have to up the ante, which team officials are considering.

"

This is big news for both the Giants and the Red Sox, as where Sandoval lands will clearly have an impact on the rest of their offseason plans.

Let's take a closer look at what a deal with Boston would mean for both teams.

Boston Red Sox

After watching incumbent third baseman Will Middlebrooks struggle for a second consecutive season, it was no secret that the Red Sox would be looking for improved production at the hot corner this offseason.

Back in October, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported the Red Sox's interest in not only Sandoval but in a third base upgrade in general, and their pursuit of Sandoval has been on ever since.

Middlebrooks looked like the long-term answer at the position after hitting .288/.325/.509 with 14 doubles and 15 home runs in 267 at-bats as a rookie back in 2012.

However, he has hit just .213/.265/.364 over the past two seasons, and his .522 OPS last year was the second-lowest mark in all of baseball among players with at least 200 at-bats.

Brock Holt held his own filling in for Middlebrooks when he went down with an injury, but he belongs in a utility role, and overall the team's production at third base was well below the league average.

	BA/OBP/SLG	OPS	H	2B	HR	RBI	R
Red Sox 3B	.211/.271/.308	.580	127	27	10	54	65
MLB Avg.	.258/.317/.397	.714	159	31	16	74	71
Sandoval	.279/.324/.415	.739	164	26	16	73	68

On top of the offensive production, Sandoval profiles as a defensive upgrade at third base over Middlebrooks.

According to FanGraphs, Sandoval was the better defender across the board as far as advanced metrics are concerned, with a significant edge in both Defensive Runs Saved (4 to minus-5) and UZR/150 (3.5 to minus-1.6).

On offense, the Red Sox saw their runs per game drop from an MLB-best 5.27 in 2013 to 3.91 this past season, 18th in the majors.

With Sandoval in the mix, their starting lineup would look something like this:

1. RF Shane Victorino
2. 2B Dustin Pedroia
3. DH David Ortiz
4. LF Yoenis Cespedes
5. 3B Pablo Sandoval
6. 1B Mike Napoli
7. SS Xander Bogaerts
8. CF Rusney Castillo
9. C Christian Vazquez

That's a solid offensive attack for 2015, but perhaps more importantly it's one that could stand to have Sandoval on the books for five-plus years.

With David Ortiz set to enter his age-39 season, the designated hitter role is not going to be occupied for much longer in Boston, and having that spot open to slide Sandoval into later on in his contract is a luxury the Giants or any other NL team would not have had.

All signs point to this being a good move for the Red Sox provided they don't shell out an unreasonable amount of money, but what does it mean for the Giants?

San Francisco Giants

Sandoval did not always play up to his full potential during his time in San Francisco, but there is no ignoring just how much he meant during the team's three World Series title runs.

A .344/.389/.545 career playoff hitter, he was particularly impressive in the World Series, where he hit .426/.460/.702 with seven extra-base hits in 12 games.

Current Washington Nationals manager Matt Williams holds the title of best third baseman in Giants franchise history, but Sandoval is at least in the running for the No. 2 spot, and replacing him will be no easy feat.

Chase Headley is the best of the remaining free agents behind Sandoval and may very well become the Giants' top target.

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

He hit .243/.328/.372 with 20 doubles and 13 home runs last season while also leading all third basemen with a 28.0 UZR/150 and ranking third with 13 defensive runs saved, according to FanGraphs.

Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors predicted a four-year, $48 million deal for Headley. That could wind up coming from the New York Yankees, as they are reportedly interested in bringing him back after acquiring him at the deadline last year, according to Mark Feinsand and Bill Madden of the New York Daily News.

If Headley is not the answer, the trade market may be the Giants' preferred route, as Alberto Callaspo, Mark Reynolds and Jack Hannahan make up the best of the rest in the free-agent pool.

David Freese could be a target, as the Los Angeles Angels are expected to move either him or fellow upcoming free agent Howie Kendrick this offseason, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

"Expect a different look in the Angels' infield next season," Rosenthal wrote. "The team is likely to trade either second baseman Howie Kendrick or third baseman David Freese to address other needs, according to major league sources."

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Freese hit .260/.321/.383 with 25 doubles and 10 home runs in his first season with the Angels and if nothing else would give the Giants another former postseason hero to man the position.

Trevor Plouffe could also be a trade target, and while the Twins have yet to officially shop him this offseason, his days in Minnesota would seem to be numbered with the arrival of top prospect Miguel Sano on the horizon.

The team would also be selling high on Plouffe, as he hit .258/.328/.423 with 14 home runs and 80 RBI last year and led all third basemen with 40 doubles.

As far as incumbent options, the team could hand the position over to some combination of Joaquin Arias, Chris Dominguez and Matt Duffy, but that would be putting a lot of faith in an unproven trio.

If there is one positive here, it's that the Giants have some money to spend in free agency one way or another. Left field is another spot that needs to be addressed, and if they can land an impact bat there, settling for a secondary option at third base would be a lot easier to swallow.

With a starting rotation that also needs to be addressed, the Giants have a busy offseason ahead of them if they hope to have any chance of contending once again next season.