John Tomase reacts to the Red Sox blockbuster trade for starter Garrett Crochet and explains why it’s the type of ‘big swing’ move fans have been waiting for the team to make for the last several years.
The Boston Red Sox have made another investment in their pitching staff, although this one might not pay immediate dividends.
Left-hander Patrick Sandoval is in agreement on 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, per Passan.
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Sandoval spent the previous six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, posting a 4.01 ERA in that span. After two consecutive seasons with an ERA over 5.00 to begin 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 with hopes that he can bolster their rotation down the stretch in 2025 and make a bigger impact in 2026.
Multiple sources confirm the @JeffPassan report. Sandoval will make $5.5m in 2025 and $12.75M in 2026. Sox are still open to other rotation moves, but this provides 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 lefty ace Garrett Crochet -- whom the Red Sox acquired earlier this month in a blockbuster trade -- along with Brayan Bello, Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, Garrett Whitlock and Lucas Giolito.
