Red Sox agree to two-year contract with rehabbing left-hander: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Red Sox have reinvested in their pitching staff, though 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 while 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, Passan said.
Sandoval spent the previous six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, posting a 4.01 ERA during that span. After two consecutive 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 starred in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, posting a 1.23 ERA with eight strikeouts over two starts for Team Mexico, which finished in third place. He finished with a 4.11 ERA and 128 strikeouts in 144.2 innings during the 2023 season.
Sandoval was the Los Angeles Angels’ Opening Day starter in 2024 but failed to find his footing with a 5.08 ERA over 16 starts prior to his injury. So it appears the Red Sox are buying relatively low on the left-hander, hoping he can strengthen their rotation in 2025 and make a bigger impact in 2026.
Multiple sources confirm it @JeffPassan report. Sandoval will make $5.5 million in 2025 and $12.75 million in 2026. Sox are still open to other rotation moves, but this offers potential late-season reinforcement 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.
