The Boston Red Sox finally have legitimate frontline starters and comfortable depth behind the rotation to feel good about entering the 2025 season.

Part of that depth comes from lefty Patrick Sandoval, who jumped from the Los Angeles Angels to Boston on a two-year deal. Sandoval is coming off of Tommy John surgery, so the Red Sox will have to wait a bit for him to make an impact on the 2025 team. Craig Breslow did seem optimistic about Sandoval’s impact in his debut season in Boston.

“We think that in the second half he should be able to return,” Breslow told reporters virtually Monday. “Exactly what that looks like, I don’t think it would make a ton of sense to speculate on. By all accounts, the procedure was straightforward. He’s making a ton of progress. We’re hopeful he’s going to impact this team in the second half.”

Breslow continued: “I think having starting pitching depth, especially quality starting pitching depth, that is potentially available in the second half when candidly we’ve struggled over the last couple of years. I think it could certainly be a boost and then being able to pencil him into the rotation next year makes this an even better move for us.”

If Sandoval rehabs properly and makes tweaks with Andrew Bailey, the lefty can be a great reinforcement for the Red Sox down the stretch. He had a career year in 2022 with a 2.91 ERA across 27 starts for the Angels.

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Sandoval adds to a group featuring Hunter Dobbins, Richard Fitts and Quinn Priester that will stay ready to roll behind Boston’s rotation that looks to push the Red Sox back to the playoffs.

Featured image via Robert Edwards/Imagn Images