Following an approach that they’ve used often in recent seasons, the Red Sox Friday signed a veteran pitcher coming off surgery to a two-year deal.
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 21: Patrick Sandoval #43 of the Los Angeles Angels pitches during the game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Friday, June 21, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/MLB Photos via Getty Images)MLB Photos via Getty Images
Lefty Patrick Sandoval, who underwent Tommy John surgery last June, was signed to a two-year, $18.25 million deal with the hope that he can contribute in 2026. Sandoval is the second lefty starter the Red Sox have acquired this month; on the final day of the winter meetings last week, the team packaged for prospects to the Chicago White Sox for Garrett Crochet.
The Red Sox’ organization had previously been bereft of lefty starters.
The deal is structured similarly to contracts they’ve given to James Paxton and Liam Hendriks, among others, in which the club pays for a first year while the pitcher is still rehabbing from surgery, and in exchange, gets a second year at an affordable price when the pitcher is expected to be fully healthy.
Sandoval, 28, spent the last six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, who non-tendered him in November, knowing that he would likely be unavailable for most, if not all of 2025. His best season took place in 2022 when he 6-9 with a 2.91 ERA over 27 starts.
Last year, he was 2-8 with a 5.08 ERA before undergoing tendon transplant surgery on his left elbow in late June. Recovery time for pitchers who undergo the procedure is typically 12-15 months, so it’s possible though far from assured that Sandoval could pitch for the Sox late in the 2025 season.
Given that it’s a long shot that Sandoval can pitch in 2025, it’s unlikely that this takes the Sox out of the pitching market. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has said that the team would like to add another starter to bolster the club’s rotation.
In his career, Sandoval is 19-45 with a 4.01 ERA over 107 appearances, all but seven of those as a starter.
The Philadelphia Phillies were among other teams to express an interest in signing Sandoval. The deal was first reported by ESPN.com’s Jeff Passan.
