In late November 2014, Pablo Sandoval signed a 5-year contract with the Red Sox that includes $95 million guaranteed.
In 2015, he hit just .245 with 10 home runs and 47 RBI over 126 games.
Last year, he appeared in just three games before his season came to an end.
"My career had fallen into an abyss because I was so complacent with things that I had already accomplished," Sandoval recently said to ESPN. "I did not work hard in order to achieve more and to remain at the level of the player that I am and that I can be."
Sandoval underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in early May, but he wasn't going to be the Red Sox's starting third baseman.
[RELATED: Report: Evans 'not aware of any consideration of a reunion' with Pablo]
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He lost his job to Travis Shaw.
"Things definitely happen for a reason," Sandoval said. "(The surgery and rehab process) have helped revitalize that fire in me to win again."
Sandoval was a two-time All-Star with the Giants and was named the 2012 World Series MVP.
In 2014, he racked up 26 hits in the playoffs, breaking the single-postseason record.
He's battled weight issues his entire career, but is working hard on his body to keep things under control.
"I have been following a really strict routine that has taken a lot of dedication from my part," Sandoval said. "It has not been easy to wake up every single day at 6:30 in the morning to then head to the gym and start a full day of work.
"But you have to have that kind of dedication if you want to achieve the goals you have set for yourself ... I am not taking anything for granted. I am here to work hard. I'm not thinking about the position or not. I am starting from scratch, and I am here to show what I can do on the field."
The Red Sox won the AL East last year and after trading for Chris Sale this week, have the second best odds of winning the 2017 World Series.
"One of the keys for us is going to be Panda," Boston manager John Farrell said at the winter meetings on Monday. "That's not to put it all on him, but here's a left-handed bat who is a proven guy and has every opportunity to make a major impact on our team this year."
