by Red Sox agree to two-year deal with rehabilitating left-hander: The report originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Red Sox have made another investment in their pitching staff, although it may not pay off immediately.
Left-hander Patrick Sandoval has agreed to a two-year, $18.25 million contract with the Red Sox, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports.
Red Sox fans will have to wait a bit to see Sandoval in action; He underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery in late June 2024 and is expected to miss the first half of the 2025 season, according to Passan.
Sandoval spent the last six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, posting a 4.01 ERA during that time. After back-to-back seasons with an ERA above 5.00 to start his career, the 28-year-old finished with a 3.62 ERA in 2021 and a career-low 2.91 ERA in 2022 with 151 strikeouts in 148.2 innings.
Sandoval also played in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, posting a 1.23 ERA with eight strikeouts in two starts for Team Mexico, which finished third. He finished the 2023 season with a 4.11 ERA and 128 strikeouts in 144.2 innings.
Sandoval was the Los Angeles Angels’ Opening Day starter in 2024 but failed to find his footing before his injury, posting a 5.08 ERA over 16 starts. So it appears that the Red Sox are betting relatively little on the left-hander in hopes that he can strengthen their rotation in 2025 and make a bigger impact in 2026.
Several sources confirm this @JeffPassan Report. Sandoval will earn $5.5 million in 2025 and $12.75 million in 2026. The Sox are still open to other rotation moves, but this offers potential late-season reinforcements and a rotation member for 2026. https://t.co/R8fG980QZ4
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) December 20, 2024
Boston’s rotation is currently led by left-hander Garrett Crochet – who the Red Sox acquired in a blockbuster trade earlier this month – along with Brayan Bello, Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, Garrett Whitlock and Lucas Giolito.
