Red Sox Sign Patrick Sandoval (12/23/24)

Fans of the Boston Red Sox are getting increasingly impatient after their only off-season moves were signing Aroldis Chapman and trading for both Garrett Crochet and Carlos Narvaez. Juan Soto signed with the New York Mets, Max Fried signed with the New York Yankees and others moves had fans in Boston going "Do something!" With Corbin Burnes still available the Boston Red Sox signed.....Patrick Sandoval.

                                                        Live look at Sox fans

The reason Sox fans aren't happy is Sandoval is yet another Craig Breslow reclamation project that might not even pitch this season. The worst part is he wasn't even that good when he last pitched. Sandoval made his ML debut with the Los Angeles Angels in 2019 and was batting practice both in 2019 and 2020. In 2021 he went 3-6 but with a respectable 3.62 ERA in 14 starts. He was even better in 2022 going 6-9 with a 2.91 ERA in 27 starts for a terrible team. Then he regressed in 2023 going 7-13 with a 4.11 ERA in 28 starts. Then last year it all went to hell as he was 2-8 with a 5.08 ERA before getting Tommy John surgery. A career record of 19-41 with a 4.01 ERA while coming off TJ surgery doesn't exactly scream "sign me".

                                                      Sandoval in better days

For whatever reason, the Sox signed Sandoval to a 2 year 18.25 million dollar deal. He's not going to pitch until at least July so the premise is he'll be a "trade deadline addition" in case the Sox need pitching help. Worst case scenario, he's just another bum coming off an injury that can possibly give them innings. Best case scenario is he's healthy, shows signs that last year was a fluke and 2021-22 was the real him. If the Sox suffer unfortunate injuries or guys like Dick Fitts and Quinn Priester suck, at least they have Sandoval for the second half of the season.....we hope.