KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Giants star Pablo Sandoval dug into the batter’s box in Game 5 of the World Series, peering out at Royals ace James Shields standing on the mound.
By next month, both of them could be wearing different jerseys.
San Francisco was trying to wrap up its third championship in five years when it returned to Kansas City for Game 6 on Tuesday night. But once the Fall Classic ends, the attention will shift in a matter of days to next season, and the free agency that looms for several players from both pennant winners.
“It’s the business of baseball,” Royals outfielder Josh Willingham said.
Sandoval is the biggest name looming for San Francisco, but there’s also World Series starters Jake Peavy and Ryan Vogelsong, reliever Sergio Romo and outfielder Michael Morse.