Report: Giants have contemplated trading for Sandoval

The San Francisco Giants could be considering reuniting with the Panda.

The team's front office has reportedly discussed trading for Boston Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval, a baseball source told the Boston Herald, according to Evan Drellich.

The move, while still considered a long shot, would reunite Sandoval with the Giants where he played for seven seasons, helping guide the team to three World Series championships in 2010, 2012, and 2014.

Sandoval left the Giants in 2014 for greener pastures, signing a five-year, $90-million contract with the Red Sox. The move hasn't worked out for both Sandoval and the team, with the big man appearing in only 129 games to date - posting a WAR of -1.9 - with increasing concerns over his weight gain and shoulder surgery, which limited him to only three games in 2016.

Red Sox president Dave Dombrowski has been tight lipped about any potential moves this offseason, but Drellich notes that the team would consider eating a significant portion of Sandoval's remaining $82.6-million contract in order to move him.

The Red Sox currently have Travis Shaw and top prospect Yoan Moncada as internal options at third base, and could be in the mix to sign free agents Justin Turner and Luis Valbuena.

The Giants, meanwhile, could deploy Sandoval at his regular position moving Eduardo Nunez to the outfield or a super utility role, something the team reportedly prefers. In Sandoval's seven-year stint with the Giants, he hit an impressive .294/.346/.465 with a WAR of 20.8.