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Red Sox’ Patrick Sandoval has heard trade rumors but instead focused on big rehab step Friday
- Story by
- Red Sox’ Patrick Sandoval has heard trade rumors but instead focused on big rehab step Friday
FORT MYERS, Fla. — In 2025, Patrick Sandoval came to spring training hoping to help the Red Sox rotation as a second-half reinforcement. A year later, things have changed .
For one, Sandoval, who signed a two-year, $18.25 million deal with the Red Sox in December 2024, is now fully healthy after a long recovery from elbow surgery he had six months before signing. And unlike last year, when the Red Sox likely would have had plenty of room to welcome Sandoval into their rotation as a late-season addition, there doesn’t seem to be much room for him in a reimagined starting five. The 29-year-old former Angel has been mentioned in trade rumors in recent weeks and figures to face an uphill climb in his attempt to crack a rotation that’s projected to include Garrett Crochet , Ranger Suárez , Sonny Gray , Brayan Bello , Johan Oviedo and perhaps Kutter Crawford .
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Those questions will be answered by the end of spring training. For now, though, Sandoval is trying to get healthy . Friday will mark an important step to that end for the lefty, who was on a normal progression last summer before experiencing arm fatigue that led to him being shut down for the duration of the regular season. For the first time since he last pitched for the Angels on June 21, 2024 at Dodger Stadium, Sandoval will face hitters, this time in a live batting practice session.
“That’ll be the first time I face a batter since the injury,” Sandoval said Tuesday at JetBlue Park. “I’m feeling really good. Just threw a bullpen today and it was a really big step forward for me. I’m feeling good. The plan is for me to roll into this as a normal player now and not just be the IL guy.
“I definitely want to be released from these shackles of rehab-land and back into real baseball activities, getting ready to pitch. I’m absolutely fired up to get some hitters in the box on Friday and really compete.”
Last summer, about 12 months removed from his internal bracing procedure, Sandoval experienced inflammation in his pitching elbow that caused the Red Sox to slow things down. By late July, manager Alex Cora acknowledged Sandoval was doubtful to contribute at all in 2025 . As the Red Sox fought their way into the postseason, Sandoval was at home in Arizona , removed from the group.
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Little was said about his setback at the time, but Sandoval contends that it was nothing major. The discomfort subsided in time for him to throw bullpen sessions as soon as he arrived in Fort Myers and therefore be on track for a regular spring.
“It just wasn’t feeling right and I didn’t want to push too hard and risk setting myself back even further,” Sandoval said of the setback. “Just a long process of trying to build back resiliency in the arm and then having the little setback in July.
“Listening to the training staff, they’re really helpful. It really gave me peace of mind that it’s part of it. The rehab process is never a linear line. There are peaks and valleys and they were great about helping me get out of the valley and start peaking again.”
If all goes well, Sandoval will get plenty of chances to start exhibition games in Florida with Bello and Suárez both slated to depart camp for the World Baseball Classic. In those outings, Sandoval will get a chance to stand out in a crowded group of rotation options that includes six other bonafide big leaguers as well as rookies Connelly Early and Payton Tolle .
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That competition is something Sandoval is embracing.
“I haven’t pitched in a year and a half. I don’t have a right to declare a spot in this rotation,” Sandoval said. “The guys we brought in this offseason and the room we have with pitchers, it’s amazing. I think it’s going to bring a lot of healthy competition and hopefully bring out the best in everyone.”
Sandoval’s Grapefruit League outings could also serve as a showcase for other teams in need of veteran rotation help. With his path to the roster unclear, the Red Sox are known to be listening to offers on the lefty, who will earn a $12.75 million salary in 2026 (and comes with a competitive balance tax hit of $9.125 million) in an effort to potentially shed some salary. Sandoval has seen those rumors and acknowledged a deal is a possibility.
“I hear them but I can’t control it,” he said. “I chose to sign here for a reason, because I wanted to pitch for this team and be a part of this team and help bring a championship back to Boston ... I can’t control it, so there’s nothing I can really do.”
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In the home clubhouse at JetBlue Park, Sandoval’s locker is situated next to a group of four former All-Stars that includes Crochet, Suárez, Gray and closer Aroldis Chapman . Sandoval doesn’t quite have the number of accolades that his locker mates do, but he still has a bit of a resumé. Quietly, while in Anaheim, the California native logged a 4.01 ERA in 107 outings (100 starts) over parts of six seasons. In a career year in 2022, he pitched to a 2.91 ERA while striking out 151 batters in 148 ⅔ innings over 27 starts.
“I know what I’m capable of in this league and I’ve shown it over the past few years,” he said. “I’m excited to show it again.”
Manager Alex Cora has watched Sandoval’s bullpens in recent days and will be on hand for Friday’s live session as well.
“Just (getting) his reps,” Cora said. “He hasn’t pitched in a while so just keep getting his reps. Velo’s getting up, quality of the bullpens are better, so we’ll see where we’re at in the upcoming weeks. He was a solid pitcher before and we expect the same thing.”
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