Pablo Sandoval favors Red Sox despite Padres higher bid — report

Free-agent Pablo Sandoval is reportedly fielding offers from his top remaining suitors and could be set to make a final decision before Thanksgiving.

According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, a major league source indicates the Boston Red Sox turned in their offer on Friday, setting the numbers at five years, $95 million. To the best of everyone's knowledge, that was the highest bid on the table. At least until Saturday afternoon.

John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle is reporting the San Diego Padres have surprisingly topped Boston's offer, which would indicate they've surpassed $100 million. Still, Shea believes the offer would not be enough to sway Sandoval from going to Boston, who emerged as the strong favorite this week.

In fact, on Wednesday, Dennis O'Donnell of KPIX in San Francisco put the chances of Sandoval landing in Boston at 90% after San Francisco offered five years, $90 million. That deal is equal to the one Hunter Pence signed in September 2013, and it's reportedly in line with the offer Sandoval sought but didn't receive from San Francisco.

Of course, a lot has changed since then. What Sandoval and his agent once saw as a fair offer might be closer to a hometown discount after Sandoval once again excelled in the postseason, helping the Giants to their third World Series championship in five years. Sandoval's 26 postseason hits — including three in the Series clincher — were an MLB record. Though none of them were homers, just about all of them meant something in the Giants journey. He also reached base safely in 16 of their 17 postseason games.

Even with a highly disappointing regular season coming before that — .279/.324.415 with 16 homers and 73 RBIs — and weight concerns reappearing, the image of October is a difficult one to lose. An already rock solid October résumé was further cemented, so it's not surprising he's looking for more money.

That said, it appears safe to say money isn't the sole motivator here. Even with San Diego reportedly going higher,  finding a way to match the appeal of playing in Fenway Park is almost impossible. Playing 81 games in Petco Park just isn't a good selling point for free agent hitters.

Also worth noting, Sandoval turned down San Francisco's $15.3 million qualifying offer. If he does sign elsewhere, the Giants will receive draft pick compensation. That's the good news for them. The better news for Sandoval, though, would be averaging at least $19 million a year.

As our own Mike Oz put it.

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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813