Sandoval, Braves agree on reunion (source)

ATLANTA -- Pablo Sandoval will come to Spring Training with a chance to extend what has, thus far, been a unique experience with the Braves.

Sandoval has agreed to a Minor League deal and will receive a $1 million salary if he is placed on Atlanta’s Major League roster, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. The club has not confirmed the deal.

The 34-year-old switch-hitter will be looking to prove that he can still offer value to a big league club. Sandoval hit .214 and produced a .549 OPS over 94 plate appearances with the Giants and Braves last year. After being released by San Francisco on Sept. 10, he signed with Atlanta and spent most of the regular season’s final two weeks working out at the Braves’ alternate training site.

Attempting to take advantage of Sandoval's 2012 World Series MVP experience, the Braves promoted the veteran on the regular season’s final day and gave him four plate appearances against the Red Sox. They then carried him throughout the postseason, but they used him only in the National League Championship Series. He went hitless over four more plate appearances, two of which were tallied during a lopsided Game 3 loss to the Dodgers.

Sandoval began declining in 2015, but he showed some promise when he hit .268 with an .820 OPS for the Giants in 2019. He has the opportunity to provide the Braves bench depth and some potential flexibility with returning third baseman Austin Riley, who has the capability of playing left field.