Giants sign Pablo Sandoval to minor-league deal

The Giants have signed third baseman Pablo Sandoval to a minor-league deal, as first reported by MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez. Sandoval will report to Hi-A San Jose before joining Triple-A Sacramento.

Sandoval, who turns 31 next month, was released Wednesday after the Red Sox designated him for assignment. The veteran returns to San Francisco, where he spent the first seven years of his major-league career before signing an ill-fated 5-year, $95 million deal with Boston after the 2014 season.

Sandoval will likely have a spot in the majors if the Giants trade Eduardo Nunez, who is likely to be dealt before the trade deadline. San Francisco has had an extremely disappointing season, though bringing back a former fan favorite for the season’s final two months will likely give fans a reason to show up at AT&T Park.

Sandoval hit just .212/.269/.354 with four homers in 32 games for Boston this season and hit .237/.286/.360 in 161 games over three seasons with the club. He was a two-time All-Star and three-time World Series champion in his first stint with the club.

Boston is on the hook for the remainder of Sandoval’s contract, paying him about $49.5 million through the end of the 2019 season. San Francisco was rumored to be in talks with Sandoval earlier in the week, but had to wait until he cleared release waivers and passed a physical to officially announce the deal Saturday.