Inbox: What will Red Sox do with Panda?

What do the Red Sox plan to do with Pablo Sandoval? I can’t see trading him given the massive contract they gave him. — Chris R., Wellesley, Mass.

The plan is to evaluate Sandoval in Spring Training and give him a chance to win his job back. Travis Shaw had a chance to claim third base, but was inconsistent in his first full season. For the second straight year, you should see a full-fledged competition at the hot corner. By all accounts, Sandoval has worked extremely hard during his rehab from left shoulder surgery. By February and March, we will see if there’s some payoff. I don’t believe the Red Sox will trade him at this point because his value is low right now.

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Do you see the Sox trading for an ace pitcher this offseason? What would they need to give up? — Kieran H., Melbourne, Australia

They’d have to give up top prospects and probably a Major League regular or two. With quite a bit of money invested in the top of the rotation, my feeling is that they won’t make a major addition during the offseason. Perhaps July would be more likely, depending on how the pennant race shapes up.

Any chance of trading Jackie Bradley Jr. for a Mets pitcher? It would fill a need for both teams. Hopefully they could get Steven Matz back. — Rutherford, N.J.

In Bradley, you have a perennial Rawlings Gold Glove Award candidate at a premium position, not to mention someone who hit 26 homers in his first full season. The one thing Bradley needs to improve is his offensive consistency. That said, I think it would be premature to trade him at this point unless you were getting a front-line starter back.

There doesn’t appear to be clarity on the catching position. I know Sandy Leon had a surprise breakout at the plate …

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