Coming off of winning his third World Series title with the San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval has high expectations for his new team.
Boston has been plenty busy this offseason and is coming off of a forgettable season where it finished 71-91 and in fifth place in the AL East in defense of its 2013 World Series title.
After an offseason makeover that saw the team bring in Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez, who will move from shortstop to left field, the "Kung Fu Panda" believes his team will win the AL East for the second time in three seasons.
"We will," Sandoval told "The Leadoff Spot" with Steve Phillips and Todd Hollandsworth on MLB Network Radio about the Red Sox winning the AL East, according to MLB.com.
He continued: "I think they did a great job putting the offense together, trying to get more patient," Sandoval said. "Hanley's doing very good, moving from shortstop to left, to see opportunity to have more guys in there. We can do more damage on offense."
Sandoval, 28, signed a five-year, $95 million pact with the Red Sox this offseason after hitting .279 with 16 homers and 73 RBI with the Giants in 2014.
The 2012 World Series MVP then showed his penchant for postseason hitting by batting .423 last October en route to his third Fall Classic title.
Sandoval admitted that he didn't give the Giants a last chance to counter the Red Sox offer before signing on with Boston. He added that he was looking for a new endeavor and wouldn't have gone back to San Francisco for more money.
"No. I left more money out there. I didn't let the Giants make the final offer," Sandoval said. "I just wanted to get out and try new things, try a new challenge. I just want to be a part of a new challenge."
Sandoval is a lifetime .294 hitter through seven seasons -- all with the Giants -- with 106 homers and 462 RBI through 869 games.
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