The Boston Red Sox have been linked to big-name starting pitchers throughout the offseason.
That’s why it came as a surprise when the Red Sox reportedly plucked Patrick Sandoval from the free-agent market Friday and agreed to a two-year, $18.25 million contract with the veteran left-hander.
There is risk involved in this move since Sandoval underwent Tommy John surgery in late June and at the earliest won’t be back until sometime in the second half of the 2025 season. And there’s no telling how Sandoval will respond on the mound following the major injury.
But there is upside by bringing Sandoval aboard and weighing that against the risk made ESPN’s David Schoenfield give this addition a C grade.
“The Red Sox probably view this as a way to get a potential mid-tier starting pitching at an average of $9 million per season, and given the price of starting pitching this offseason, that’s a great deal if Sandoval finds his 2022 form,” Schoenfield wrote. “But that’s also the only time Sandoval has pitched at that level. The more likely scenario is a No. 4/5 starter, which makes you wonder if that $18 million would have been better spent on more of a sure thing or putting that money toward Corbin Burnes.
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“But you have to sign what you can get and the Red Sox are at least stockpiling rotation options, a group that now includes Garrett Crochet, Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, Brayan Bello, Cooper Criswell and Richard Fitts, with Lucas Giolito and Sandoval returning from Tommy John surgery.”
The Red Sox certainly would be getting a bargain if Sandoval comes off Tommy John surgery resembling the pitcher he was in 2022. He made 27 starts for the Los Angeles Angels that season, notching a career-best 2.91 ERA to go along with a 1.339 WHIP and 151 strikeouts in 148 2/3 innings.
But Sandoval’s career numbers suggest that season could be an outlier for the 28-year-old California native. He posted an ERA over five in three out of his six MLB seasons, including his partial 2024 campaign in which he went 2-8 with a 5.08 ERA in 16 starts.
It will be on Red Sox manager Alex Cora and pitching coach Andrew Bailey to get Sandoval back to his top form. And if they do, this deal will look great for Boston.
