Former World Series MVP Pablo Sandoval agreed to a contract Saturday with the Staten Island FerryHawks of the independent Atlantic League, nine days after he was released from a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants.

Sandoval, 37, hit .250 with two RBIs in 28 spring training at-bats for the Giants, the team he helped to World Series titles in 2010, '12 and '14.

Blake Snell is expected to make his debut for San Francisco on April 8 against the Washington Nationals, Giants manager Bob Melvin said Monday.

A two-time Cy Young Award winner, Snell agreed to a $62 million, two-year contract with the Giants on March 18. He has been throwing at extended spring training in Scottsdale, Arizona, to build up his arm.

Joey Bart, once considered the likely successor to Buster Posey as the San Francisco Giants' catcher, was designated for assignment Sunday.

San Francisco made the move to open a roster spot for 28-year-old right-hander Daulton Jefferies, who started against San Diego in his first major league appearance since May 18, 2022, with Oakland.

Blake Snell hopes to pitch for the San Francisco Giants in the club's opening series against the San Diego Padres.

"We'll throw a bullpen tomorrow and go from there," Snell said Wednesday at his first press conference. He finalized a two-year, $62 million contract with the Giants on Monday night.

Logan Webb will start the opener. Snell could pitch later in the four-game series.

Blake Snell's lengthy free agency reached a conclusion Monday night.

The reigning National League Cy Young winner agreed to a deal with the San Francisco Giants, a source told ESPN's Jeff Passan, confirming a report by the New York Post.

The agreement is for two years and $62 million and includes an opt-out after the first season, the source told ESPN.

Third baseman J.D. Davis has agreed to a one-year contract with the Oakland Athletics just days after he was released by the San Francisco Giants.

According to multiple reports, Davis will earn $2.5 million and can make an additional $1 million in performance bonuses.

Matt Chapman, regarded as one of the best defensive infielders in baseball, agreed to a three-year, $54 million contract with the San Francisco Giants, sources confirmed to ESPN on Saturday.

The deal also includes opt-outs after the first and second year of the agreement.

The San Francisco Giants continue to explore the markets for Blake Snell and Matt Chapman, according to a report.

One source claimed there's roughly a 50-50 chance that the Giants come away with one of those players.

The Cardinals have agreed to a deal with free-agent shortstop Brandon Crawford, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand on Monday.

The team has not confirmed the deal, which is pending a physical and serves to add some depth to the position behind top prospect Masyn Winn, especially with dynamo utility man Tommy Edman still recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right wrist last October.
 

Pablo Sandoval is back in baseball and in a familiar spot, too.

The 37-year-old Sandoval will return to Giants camp as a non-roster invitee, NBC Sports Bay Area first reported Saturday, marking a return to San Francisco for a player affectionately known as "Kung Fu Panda" during his time there.