The problem with Sandoval's "body of work" is that it includes a now fairly extensive record of decline, even going back to when the Sox signed him in the first place (indeed, a lot of people were nervous about the signing for precisely that reason). He then got worse in his first year here, and it sounds like the coaching staff didn't see much this spring to make them think he's on the verge of turning it around. I mean, last year he was a legitimately bad player, and preceded that with some significant fall-off. If I were betting on a turnaround of a formerly good player, I probably wouldn't choose the free-swinging, low power corner infielder with highly diminished defensive range and a bad body. Shaw may or may not be a good all around third baseman -- but there's a lot of evidence now to suggest Sandoval is simply not a good player anymore and never will be again. In that context, why not roll the dice on the younger guy?