SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Giants will honor their 2014 team in August, but for the first time they will be without a member of that roster as Brandon Crawford is still a free agent. That is about to change.
NBC Sports Bay Area reported that Pablo Sandoval is scheduled to come to camp as a non-roster invitee, at least in the Pandas' minds, which doesn't necessarily mean the Giants did with Sergio Romo. , it's not just to see them off. Sandoval told his friends: “He feels great and is aiming to come back at age 37.''
Sandoval hasn't played in the big leagues since hitting .178 with four home runs with the Atlanta Braves in 2021. He played for two different organizations in Mexico the following year and briefly played in a league in Dubai last fall.
Sandoval played in a total of 1,149 games in two stints with the Giants, but adding to that number is a long shot. He played primarily as a first baseman during his time with the Giants in 2020, and the roster is a bit lacking in left-handed options, leading the coaching staff to ask Blake Sabol to take ground balls this spring. I even requested it.
But LaMonte Wade Jr. and Wilmer Flores are set at first base most of the time, with a crowd at third base. J.D. Davis, David Villar, and Casey Schmidt could all play there, and the Giants could still add an infielder, with Matt Chapman clearly a good fit. Jorge Soler, who underwent a physical on Saturday, will take most of the at-bats at DH.
Sandoval arrived at Oracle Park for Mike Murphy's ceremony last August, looking much leaner than he had during his playing days, and apparently had continued to work hard during the offseason. At the very least, he should bring a jolt of new energy to the clubhouse this spring, and if he can make it through March, he could play at Oracle Park one last time like Romo did last year.
The Giants will also add a nice touch of nostalgia. They did not reissue number 48 after Ross Stripling was traded to the Athletics.
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