Red Sox agree to two-year deal with rehab left-hander: Report

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Red Sox agree to two-year deal with rehab left-hander: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox have made another investment in their pitching staff, though this one may not pay immediate dividends.

Left-hander Patrick Sandoval agrees to two-year, $18.25 million contract with 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 Passport.

Sandoval spent the previous six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, posting a 4.01 ERA in that span. After three consecutive seasons with an ERA over 5.00, 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.

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 before his injury. So it appears the Red Sox are buying relatively low on the left-hander with hopes he can bolster their rotation down the stretch in 2025 and make a bigger impact in 2026.

Boston’s rotation is currently led by lefty ace Garrett Crochet — who Acquired the Red Sox earlier this month in a blockbuster trade — along with Brayan Bello, Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, Garrett Whitlock and Lucas Giolito.