Giants reportedly bringing back Pablo Sandoval

It’s been a rough offseason for Giants fans who have watched popular players such as Madison Bumgarner, Will Smith and Stephen Vogt depart in free agency.

Not all the fan favorites who became free agents this winter will play elsewhere next season.

The Giants reportedly agreed to a minor-league deal with infielder Pablo Sandoval on Wednesday, according to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman. Sandoval, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, agreed to return to the organization after meeting with new manager Gabe Kapler in Miami earlier this offseason.

Heyman reported the Mets and Phillies also “pursued” Sandoval this winter, but during the 2019 season, Sandoval expressed a desire to continue his career in San Francisco beyond the end of his beloved manager Bruce Bochy’s tenure.

The switch-hitting infielder will again face a challenging road to earning a spot on the major league roster as the Giants will have several other players competing for roster spots this spring. Sandoval underwent his season-ending surgery in September but expressed optimism he could be ready to play early in the ?2020 season.

Despite appearing to be a better fit for an American League team where he could serve as a designated hitter, Sandoval will return to a familiar clubhouse and attempt to earn a job as a utility infielder.

The 2019-2020 offseason marked the second time in Sandoval’s career he became a free agent, but this time around, he was not in line for a gigantic payday. After leaving the Giants following the 2014 World Series to sign a five-year, $95 million deal with the Red Sox, Sandoval struggled to stay healthy during his stint in Boston.

An April shoulder surgery wiped out all but three games of the 2016 season for Sandoval and after he hit .220 with a .632 OPS during the first half of 2017, ?Boston designated him for assignment with nearly $50 million left on his contract.

Despite making critical comments of teammates and the organization following his departure in 2014, Sandoval was welcomed back to the Giants on a minor league contract in July 2017 and re-emerged as a popular presence in the clubhouse and on the field.