This is Pablo Sandoval. He’s a third baseman for the Boston Red Sox.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BCV_iPetCJ7/
Credit: kfp48 / YouTube
He looks happy, right? Well, the Red Sox aren’t happy. Sandoval entered spring training looking like this:
Welp. Here it is. Via the @BostonGlobe, the picture that everyone's going to be talking about tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/FbWPrm8DfH
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) February 21, 2016
Credit: @Jared_Carrabis / Twitter
Yeah, not exactly the best look for a professional baseball player.
Credit: Roc A Fella / Lipstick Alley
Sandoval, a 29-year-old pelotero from Venezuela, has battled with his weight for several seasons. It’s no coincidence that his nickname is the Kung-Fu Panda.
Credit: @kfp48 / Instagram
So why are the Red Sox mad? Before the start of the 2015 season, they signed Sandoval a five-year, $95 million contract.
Credit: @kfp48 / Instagram
That’s a lot of money to pay a guy who can’t quite get in shape.
Why the huge contract? Despite his weight issues, Sandoval was an All-Star caliber player for his former team, the San Francisco Giants.
https://www.instagram.com/p/XIslwVNCKh
Credit: @kfp48 / Instagram
But in his first season with the Red Sox, Sandoval didn’t perform as well as he did with the Giants, posting career lows in several categories.
Credit: @kfp48 / Instagram
It wasn’t just Sandoval’s hitting that suffered. He also committed the second-most errors (15) in his career.
And he got busted for using Instagram during a game. Seriously.
Not to blow up the dude's spot, but uh…is Pablo Sandoval on Instagram during the game? pic.twitter.com/q8X4HoFDOT
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) June 18, 2015
Credit: @Jared_Carrabis / Twitter
Sandoval admitted to using Instagram and was benched for his transgression.
Things got so bad that Red Sox fans were asking the Giants to take Sandoval back.
Credit: jlynnjohnston / Instagram
That’s a Red Sox fan asking San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy for a refund.
Well, after Sandoval made it clear he’s not watching his weight, the Red Sox announced that Sandoval is being demoted.
John Farrell says that Travis Shaw is the #RedSox third baseman. Pablo Sandoval to the bench. Met with both players this morning.
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) March 31, 2016
Credit: @PeteAbe / Twitter
Sandoval told ESPN that he wasn’t watching his weight because he didn’t think he had to: “I don’t weigh. I don’t weigh in at all. I just do my work, try to do everything I can out there. I don’t weigh at all in the whole offseason. I just try to get better, be in a better position and, like I say, be an athlete.”
Upon hearing the news, several people began poking fun at Sandoval for being a well-paid benchwarmer.
Pablo Sandoval right now. pic.twitter.com/6CFhn5Eoj6
— Matthew Stucko (@MatthewStucko) March 31, 2016
Credit: @MatthewStucko / Twitter
This is how much Sandoval will make the next four season, even if he continues to ride the bench.
This is remarkable. Sandoval due $17.6M in both 2016, '17, then $18.6M in '18 and '19. $5M buyout for 2020. https://t.co/q9PRfb5ujK
— Barry Svrluga (@barrysvrluga) March 31, 2016
Credit: @barrysvrluga / Twitter
Of course, there were plenty of digs about his weight.
#RedSox bench Pablo Sandoval. They didn't sugarcoat the news, because he would have eaten that, too.
— NOT Baseball Tonight (@NOTMLBTonight) March 31, 2016
Credit: @NOTMLBTonight / Twitter
Sandoval also told radio station WEII he was happy with the decision.
Credit: @redsox / Instagram
“We talked about it. I’m happy with the decision. They made the decision. It’s the right decision to help the team win. I’m going to be happy. I’m going to be ready on the bench, get ready for anything. I’m going to get ready during the season to do my job.”
READ: This Is Why Baseball Player Alex Torres Wears A Funny-Looking Cap
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