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The Giants will extend a qualifying offer to third baseman Pablo Sandoval before he hits free agency, as reported by Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. The two sides have not had significant contract talks since spring training, but the team remains interested in re-signing him this winter.
Sandoval, 28, is expected to decline the qualifying offer and draw interest from multiple teams looking for help at third base, including the Marlins and Red Sox. The Giants were interested in a three-year deal with Sandoval during spring training, according to Heyman, but Sandoval is going to look for a longer deal in the $100-million range.
Sandoval put together a nice season after starting off slow, ending the year with a .279/.324/.415 line as well as sixteen home runs and 73 RBI. He has hit .346 in twelve postseason games so far this season, upping his career batting average in the postseason to a .333 mark.