Rumor Roundup: Giants to pursue Sandoval?

The Hot Stove season is underway, and we’re keeping you up to date with the latest free-agent news, trade buzz, rumors and more.

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Giants to reunite with Sandoval? The Giants have had internal discussions about a reunion with Pablo Sandoval, according to the Boston Herald. It’s unknown whether the clubs have discussed a potential deal involving the third baseman.

The 30-year-old Sandoval has struggled since signing with the Red Sox as a free agent following the 2014 season. In seven seasons with the Giants, he slashed .294/346/.465 and was a two-time All-Star. Sandoval was also the Most Valuable Player in the 2012 World Series, one of three titles he won with San Francisco before departing.

But since signing a five-year, $95 million contract with the Red Sox, Sandoval hasn’t shown the same productivity when in the lineup; he hit .245/.292/.366 with 10 home runs and 47 RBIs in 2015 before losing his starting role in Spring Training and undergoing shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum after three games in ’16.

Sandoval, whose defense also declined after signing with Boston, is owed $59.8 million (including a buyout on a 2020 team option) over the final three years of his contract.

Braun’s future in Milwaukee uncertainRyan Braun is reportedly having difficulty dealing with the possibility that the Brewers might trade him this winter.

“Not knowing 100 percent where [I’ll] be playing is hard. It definitely complicates things,” Braun said recently, according to the Associated Press.

The veteran outfielder and 2011 National League MVP Award winner, who has spent his entire career in Milwaukee, has long been linked to rumors that he may be dealt, and the Dodgers reportedly came close to acquiring him in August.

Braun, 33, still has four years and $76 million remaining on his contract, with a $15 million mutual option and $4 million buyout for 2021. The urgency of a potential trade stems from Braun achieving 10-and-5 rights early next year, which would give him a full no-trade clause.

However, general manager David Stearns refuted that he had a deal in the works this winter.

“I know that’s a big story this offseason, but I’m very happy that Ryan is a member of the Milwaukee Brewers. I expect him to be a member of the Milwaukee Brewers going forward,” Stearns said.

In the midst of a rebuild, the Brewers have dealt longtime staples Jonathan Lucroy and Francisco Rodriguez in the last 12 months.

Braves could look into acquiring Vogt The Braves, looking for catching, could be interested in acquiring A’s catcher Stephen Vogt, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Vogt, an All-Star the last two seasons, hit .251 with 14 home runs and 56 RBIs for Oakland in 2016. The Braves, though, wouldn’t want to give up too much to land Vogt, according to O’Brien, because there is some concern about the 32-year-old veteran’s defense.

Atlanta is trying to emphasize game-calling and pitch framing, which is why it was interested in signing free-agent catcher Jason Castro, who ended up signing with the Twins. Vogt ranked well below average as a pitch framer in 2016, according to Baseball Prospectus’ Framing Runs metric.

D-backs could gain with potential Greinke deal Because Zack Greinke’s large contract limits the D-backs’ payroll flexibility, it’s possible that new general manager Mike Hazen could look into trying to trade the right-hander, according to ESPN.com.

Greinke is entering the second year of the six-year, $205 million deal he signed with Arizona as a free agent last offseason, and he will make $34 million in 2017. That’s close to one-third of the club’s expected …

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