In a stunning development that caught many in the baseball world off guard, the Boston Red Sox have signed left-handed starting pitcher Patrick Sandoval to a two-year, $18.25 million contract. The move comes as a surprise considering Sandoval is currently rehabbing from Tommy John surgery he underwent in June and is not expected to pitch until the second half of the 2025 season at the earliest.
Red Sox Gamble on Sandoval’s Future
So why would the Red Sox commit so much guaranteed money to a pitcher who won’t take the mound for them anytime soon? It’s a calculated gamble on Sandoval’s tantalizing potential. The 28-year-old southpaw was in the midst of a breakout 2022 campaign for the Angels before injuries derailed him. That season, he posted a stellar 2.91 ERA across 27 starts, logging 148.2 innings with 151 strikeouts.
When healthy, Sandoval has shown the ability to be a legitimate mid-rotation starter with swing-and-miss stuff from the left side. That’s a highly valuable commodity, and the Red Sox are betting that Sandoval can regain that 2022 form once he’s recovered from surgery.
– MLB Insider Jeff Passan
The contract, which will pay Sandoval $5.5M in 2025 and $12.75M in 2026, is well above what he was projected to earn via arbitration had the Angels tendered him a contract. By signing him to this deal now, Boston is banking on Sandoval being a bargain in 2026 if he returns to his pre-surgery effectiveness.
Bolstering the Rotation
For a Red Sox team that has been seeking to upgrade its starting pitching, Sandoval represents an intriguing upside play, albeit one that comes with obvious injury risk. If the gamble pays off, he could slot nicely into a rotation mix that currently includes the likes of Garrett Crochet, Tanner Houck, Brayan Bello, and veteran newcomers Lucas Giolito and Kutter Crawford.
- Proven ability to miss bats and limit hard contact
- Potential to be a stabilizing lefty presence
- Luxury of time to rehab with no 2025 expectations
While it remains to be seen how Sandoval will look post-surgery, and there’s always the chance he never quite recaptures his previous form, the upside is tantalizing enough for the Red Sox to roll the dice. In a free agent market where the price tags for established starters have soared, this creative approach to securing talented pitching could prove to be a savvy strike by Chaim Bloom and the Boston front office.
The Red Sox will surely be cautious with Sandoval’s rehab, with an eye toward having him at full strength for the 2026 season and hopefully beyond. There’s always risk involved with this type of major surgery, but with modern rehab techniques, many pitchers have been able to return to their previous level of performance or even exceed it.
Only time will tell if this shrewd signing will pay dividends for the Red Sox in their quest to build a sustainable contender. But in locking up Sandoval now, they’ve shown a willingness to make creative, high-upside moves to construct their pitching staff for the long haul. Red Sox Nation will be eagerly monitoring his recovery progress, dreaming on the dynamic lefty taking the Fenway mound and mowing down AL East foes for years to come.
The Red Sox will surely be cautious with Sandoval’s rehab, with an eye toward having him at full strength for the 2026 season and hopefully beyond. There’s always risk involved with this type of major surgery, but with modern rehab techniques, many pitchers have been able to return to their previous level of performance or even exceed it.
Only time will tell if this shrewd signing will pay dividends for the Red Sox in their quest to build a sustainable contender. But in locking up Sandoval now, they’ve shown a willingness to make creative, high-upside moves to construct their pitching staff for the long haul. Red Sox Nation will be eagerly monitoring his recovery progress, dreaming on the dynamic lefty taking the Fenway mound and mowing down AL East foes for years to come.
The Road to Recovery
For Sandoval, the contract provides financial security and a clear runway to work his way back from Tommy John surgery without being rushed. The typical recovery timeline for the procedure is 12-18 months, which would put him on track for a potential return around the 2025 All-Star break or later.
The Red Sox will surely be cautious with Sandoval’s rehab, with an eye toward having him at full strength for the 2026 season and hopefully beyond. There’s always risk involved with this type of major surgery, but with modern rehab techniques, many pitchers have been able to return to their previous level of performance or even exceed it.
Only time will tell if this shrewd signing will pay dividends for the Red Sox in their quest to build a sustainable contender. But in locking up Sandoval now, they’ve shown a willingness to make creative, high-upside moves to construct their pitching staff for the long haul. Red Sox Nation will be eagerly monitoring his recovery progress, dreaming on the dynamic lefty taking the Fenway mound and mowing down AL East foes for years to come.
The Road to Recovery
For Sandoval, the contract provides financial security and a clear runway to work his way back from Tommy John surgery without being rushed. The typical recovery timeline for the procedure is 12-18 months, which would put him on track for a potential return around the 2025 All-Star break or later.
The Red Sox will surely be cautious with Sandoval’s rehab, with an eye toward having him at full strength for the 2026 season and hopefully beyond. There’s always risk involved with this type of major surgery, but with modern rehab techniques, many pitchers have been able to return to their previous level of performance or even exceed it.
Only time will tell if this shrewd signing will pay dividends for the Red Sox in their quest to build a sustainable contender. But in locking up Sandoval now, they’ve shown a willingness to make creative, high-upside moves to construct their pitching staff for the long haul. Red Sox Nation will be eagerly monitoring his recovery progress, dreaming on the dynamic lefty taking the Fenway mound and mowing down AL East foes for years to come.
