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Pablo Sandoval, who once popped his belt, looks to be in great shape

Boston Red Sox

Pablo Sandoval who?

Boston Red Sox fans didn't see much of Sandoval in 2016; in early May, the third baseman was ruled out for the rest of the season to rehab a surgically repaired torn labrum in his left shoulder that continued to raise questions about his poor performance and ongoing weight issues.

But with the Red Sox making two major trades on Tuesday, one that sent starting third baseman Travis Shaw to the Milwaukee Brewers and another that sent top prospect Yoan Moncada to the Chicago White Sox, it's looking like Sandoval could regain his starting spot next season.

Luckily for the Red Sox, it appears the 30-year-old has been working hard to get back into game shape and he looks terrific.

Check out this photo of Sandoval taken on Monday.

In his two seasons with the Red Sox, Sandoval has struggled to live up to the five-year, $95 million contract he signed in November 2014. The low point came in early 2016, when his belt burst on a swing-and-miss in Toronto. In three games last season, Sandoval had zero hits and struck out four times.

This photo, however, has to be a promising sign. 

-- Isaac Chipps

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