The Boston Red Sox have made the playoffs just once since running rampant over Major League Baseball en route to a World Series title in 2018. After taking care of business against AL East foes in New York and Baltimore over the last six games, they sit four games out of first place but in the top wildcard spot. Not only have the previous five games helped solidify a playoff spot, but anytime they can manhandle the New York Yankees in the Bronx the way they did is a supercharged shot of confidence.
At the trade deadline, one of the team's big needs was another reliever capable of pitching in high-leverage situations. Even though Steven Matz was acquired and has pitched well, the biggest bullpen addition arrived in the last week when Justin Slaten returned to Boston after not pitching since the end of May, thanks to a difficult-to-diagnose bone and nerve issue. Slaten’s return will add much-needed depth to the pen; it should also end the idea that some Red Sox minor league starting pitchers could, or even should, be added to the major league bullpen.
For well over a decade, one of the biggest complaints of the Red Sox minor league system had been its inability to develop homegrown starting pitchers. Since Craig Breslow was put in charge, that complaint has become one of the organization’s biggest strengths. That strength has prompted some to suggest that perhaps some of these starters could help the Boston bullpen in 2025.
David Sandlin Should Not Be Promoted to the Boston Bullpen for the Stretch Run
David Sandlin was acquired from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for reliever Jon Schreiber. Schreiber had a successful tenure, but Sandlin was an interesting arm who began last season with the Greenville Drive and was promoted to AA Portland after making 10 starts with an ERA above 5.00. However, he had a lot of swing-and-miss in his repertoire, as evidenced by his 50 strikeouts in 31.2 innings. Once he arrived in Portland, it took him a while to adjust, finishing 2024 with numbers similar to his time in Greenville. He started this year in Portland, and something clicked for him. In 13 starts for the Seadogs, he allowed four runs or fewer in all of them, compiling 67 strikeouts and just 24 walks.
At the beginning of August, Sandlin was among those who were promoted to AAA Worcester. In his first start, he surrendered just one run on four hits in five innings. After that start, with the major league bullpen still looking for another high-leverage arm, the decision was made to move Sandlin to the bullpen. The hope was that his 97mph fastball and swing-and-miss slider would play up even more in the bullpen, which could lead to a spot in the big-league pen for the stretch run. Thus far, the experiment has not gone well. He has made eight relief appearances, and just two of those have been scoreless. He has given up 14 runs in eight innings, leading to a 13.50 ERA as a reliever.
At the time, the rationale for a move to the pen made sense, but the experiment hasn’t worked to date. Now that Slaten will return to Boston soon, and Matz has given up five hits and one run in nine appearances, the need for another high-leverage arm has been lessened. It may be too late in the year to have Sandlin stretch out to be a starter again, but in my opinion, Sandlin should remain a starter and not be promoted to the major league roster this season.