MLB San Francisco Giants

Pablo Sandoval Is Perfect Fit With San Francisco Giants

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By @real_johnshea

Pablo Sandoval MLB Free Agency

Kelley L. Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Pablo Sandoval has become a postseason legend that extends beyond an adorable nickname in six-plus seasons with the San Francisco Giants. The “Kung Fu Panda” is the Giants’ top offseason priority, as he should be. Sandoval was a catalyst, yet again, during the Giants’ 2014 World Series run, recording an MLB record 26 postseason hits.

According to multiple sources, Sandoval reportedly seeks a six-year contract, a time frame that doubles what general manager Brian Sabean offered the 2012 World Series MVP at the season’s start. Sabean will have to do better than that to retain the Giants’ star-studded third baseman, and he knows that. It’s arguable the Giants were prepared to let Sandoval walk before their torrid October run at a third ring in five years, but that is no longer an option.

Sandoval doesn’t need San Francisco as much as the City by the Bay needs him, but the hefty cleanup hitter has made it clear that he very much would like to remain in orange and black. Sabean has gone on record, telling ESPN.com that the club will not seek out an alternative, nor other roster gaps until Sandoval is signed.

Whether Sandoval inks a new deal with the Giants remains to be seen, but he is a perfect fit for San Francisco’s energetic home crowd that has now sold out an MLB-leading 324 consecutive regular season games. From the Panda hats to the outrageous Panda heads, Sandoval is so much more than a baseball player in the Bay Area. He’s an iconic representative of the most critical turning point in San Francisco baseball history.

Sandoval busted into the big leagues in 2008, the year after home run king Barry Bonds had unofficially retired. The then 21-year-old catcher made an immediate impression on diehard Giants fans who were enduring a third straight losing season, the only blip on Sabean’s outstanding 18-year tenure as GM. Sandoval recorded 50 hits in 145 at-bats in 41 games that year, good enough for a .345 batting average.

The two-time All-Star has endured his ups and downs, much like the Giants had before their self-proclaimed dynasty came to fruition. He was benched during the Giants’ 2010 World Series run but bounced back in 2011 to post a .909 OPS in 466 plate appearances. He famously etched his name in the history books with an epic three home run performance in Game 1 of the ’12 Fall Classic, becoming the first player in MLB history to accomplish that feat in his first three at-bats.

Sandoval has been dubbed an above average regular season player with recurring weight issues. He’s been benched and heralded, ridiculed and praised. There remains little doubt that Sandoval is capable of continuing his postseason dominance, and the Giants’ front office brass knows this. They know that they not only owe Sandoval an eye-popping contract for the purpose of maintaining a relatively formidable lineup heading into next season, but also because they they owe it to their fans.

Loyalty has been an integral aspect of Sabean’s illustrious reign in San Francisco. This offseason will prove no different when Sandoval inks the contract he deserves with the team that helped make him a legend.

John Shea is an MLB writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @real_johnshea. Like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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