Red Sox Take Major Risk With Latest Free Agent Signing
The Boston Red Sox finished the 2024 season with an 81-81 record. They've now missed the playoffs for the third straight season and fans are hoping the tide will turn in their favor next season.
Red Sox fans are accustomed to being in the playoffs and are looking for management to make moves to raise the floor of the team. On Friday, it was revealed that Boston added a pitcher to the staff who won't be ready for the start of the season.
Left-hander Patrick Sandoval and the Boston Red Sox are in agreement on a two-year, $18.25 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Sandoval, 28, is coming off Tommy John surgery and expects to return in the second half. He gets a strong deal with Boston looking toward 2026 as well.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 20, 2024
Red Sox News: Boston and Patrick Sandoval Agreed to Terms
According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, left-hander Patrick Sandoval and Boston agreed to a two-year, $18.25 million deal.
Sandoval underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery after a June 21 start against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is expected to miss the first few months of the season, as he rehabs back onto the diamond.
The 28-year-old came into the league as an 11th-round pick in the 2015 Draft and spent his entire six-year career with the Los Angeles Angels. Across 100 career starts, Sandoval has a 19-45 record with a 4.01 ERA and 1.39 WHIP. He's also compiled 529 strikeouts and 236 walks.
Back on Dec. 11, Boston acquired Garrett Crochet from the White Sox, adding a top-notch arm to the rotation. The addition of Crochet and Sandoval shows that the Red Sox want to improve the pitching on the mound.
Last season, Boston was 17th in the league in team ERA (4.04) but that isn't good enough. They have faith in Sandoval's ability to be productive when he gets back on the field but that's a big-time risk.
Some pitchers lose placement and accuracy when they come back from this surgery. That could be a possibility when Sandoval gets back on the mound. In addition, he's failed to record a winning season in any of his six seasons in the pros.
Boston is banking on a bounce-back campaign and that's a risk for sure.
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