The Atlanta Braves, who are currently searching for infield depth and options at third base as they close in on this season’s edition of the playoffs, signed veteran infielder Pablo Sandoval to a minor-league deal on Monday night.
Sandoval, who was released by the San Francisco Giants last week, will not immediately join the Braves’ active roster but should have a shot to latch onto a team with World Series aspirations in 2020.
The affable Venezuela native, the owner of a career .279 batting average with 149 home runs and 1,266 hits, rebounded to have a solid season with the Giants in 2019 after a disappointing stint with the Boston Red Sox. However, his slow start to 2020, which included just 1 home run to go along with a .220 average, meant that the franchise that he helped win three World Series titles had to let him go.
The Braves will see if they can get any more production out of Sandoval as they look to shore up their roster heading into the final weeks of the season. The team recently optioned potential third base option Johan Camargo to its alternate training site after he hit only .200 in 35 games this season. Primary third base option Austin Riley hasn’t done much better, hitting only .229 with 7 home runs.
Sandoval will now report to Gwinnett County, Georgia to look to impress his new team enough to get another big league shot.
