Sandoval says friends, history helped lure him to Boston

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Perhaps someday Pablo Sandoval will divulge the true reason he chose to bolt the only organization he has known to move to Boston.

It was not money. His deal with the Red Sox, formally announced Tuesday, equaled the Giants’ offer of five years at $95 million with a club option for a sixth year.

Perhaps he wanted to play on baseball’s biggest stage in the American League East. Maybe he truly felt he accomplished all he could after winning a third ring in San Francisco. Or maybe he decided to leave as soon as talks with the Giants on an extension broke down in the spring.

If he had a single deciding factor, Sandoval did not reveal it when the Red Sox introduced him at a news conference in Boston. He was full of platitudes about joining the Red Sox and praise for the fans and team he left behind.

He sounded unready to publicize what truly was in his heart.

“It was a tough decision for me,” Sandoval said. “It took me a long time to be sure that I was going to make the right decision. The Giants gave me the opportunity to be in the big leagues, opened the door, taught me how to respect the game. The Giants fans are one of the best.

“At that time, I wanted to close the cycle I got out there. I wanted a new challenge. I put that choice to be here in Boston. I need a new challenge. ... I came here to be in the postseason again.”

“The Panda is with me,” Pablo Sandoval said of his Giants nickname. “He comes to Boston.” “The Panda is with me,” Pablo Sandoval said of his Giants nickname. “He comes to Boston.” Photo: Stephan Savoia / Associated Press Photo: Stephan Savoia / Associated Press Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Sandoval says friends, history helped lure him to Boston 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Sandoval offered some hints.

He noted that as an 18-year-old he watched the Red Sox win their first World Series in 86 years and also said he wanted to go to a team with a legacy. So Sandoval understands the Red Sox’s history.

He surely has watched the Red Sox and Yankees play many times on Sunday night and perhaps daydreamed about stepping into the middle of that intensity and furor.

Another hint might be the teammates he has acquired.

Sandoval said that when he was in Double-A he met Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz, who took the time to ply Sandoval with advice. They became friends. Sandoval said he also was “good friends” with fellow Boston newcomer Hanley Ramirez.

“We have a good relationship,” Sandoval said. “We had dinner last night. We talked about all the good moments we had in the West, the rivalry. Being on the same team is going to be fun. He's such a great guy. He’s funny. He loves his teammates. Guys like him, David, (Dustin) Pedroia ... we’re going to have fun out there.”

Sandoval also acknowledged the friendlier hitting dimensions of Fenway Park, saying, “I’m going to enjoy this ballpark. One of those things I was thinking about my decision was, the ballpark is going to help me more. I’m a line-drive hitter. I’m an opposite-field hitter.”

Sandoval denied that the opportunity to be a designated hitter played into his decision, saying, “I want to prove to myself that I’m going to be a third baseman for this team the rest of my career.”

There has been speculation that Sandoval wanted to get away from the Giants’ constant harping over his weight. He denied that, too.

“I don’t take it personally,” he said. “I take it as advice they give to me. They want me to be a better player. I learned a lot of things from that.”

If Sandoval was opaque about his true reason for leaving San Francisco, Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington was crystal-clear about why he wanting the third baseman, calling him a “primary target” for a team that finished last in its division in 2014.

“He really embodies a lot of what we care about. This is a guy who’s been a big winner. He’s been a performer when it counts the most. He’s respected as a teammate. He loves to play. He really fits what we’re about here. We’re looking forward to having him with the Red Sox, in the middle of our lineup, when it counts the most.”

Furthermore, Cherington said, “Everything about him we learned through our research suggested this is a guy who loves the game, loves to play, loves to win. We wanted that type of person in our clubhouse.”

And Sandoval said he would be happy if Cherington and the rest of the Red Sox call him “Panda.” Sandoval does not want to leave that nickname in San Francisco.

“The Panda is with me,” Sandoval said. “He comes to Boston.”

Henry Schulman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.