The Boston Red Sox have been aggressive this offseason. So much so that they even tried clinching Juan Soto! While they missed him, this time they added an intriguing pitching staff signing: left-hander Patrick Sandoval for a two-year, $18.25 million contract. The 28-year-old player was once a standout Los Angeles Angels star. He was known to rack up strikeouts and deliver on the clutch performances. Even he was projected to earn $5.9 million in arbitration but was surprisingly non-tendered by the Angels.

However, it might not have been such a far-fetched fact given that Sandoval was anyway not going to be able to play until mid-next year. The reason is that he underwent an internal brace procedure to repair a torn UCL in his throwing elbow. So why did the Red Sox take on this gamble and sign him? This just might be the team’s recent trend of targeting undervalued players with hopes that they reach their full potential soon. Less investment, high ROI. Sandoval had talked about his injury back in June, and it’s now resurfacing once again.

Sandoval’s gritty determination to pitch through pain 

Talk about tough! Patrick Sandoval shared the story about how he knew something was wrong with his elbow, but refused to leave the diamond until he could strike out Shohei Ohtani. On The Locker Room with AJ Ramos, Sandoval said, “I ripped a slider, one of the nastier ones I’ve thrown all year. I was like, ‘Oh no,’ I felt something in my elbow… 3-2 count, we called a fastball up, threw it as hard as I could, and it went 88 or 89. The worst pain I’ve ever felt in my life.” Despite the pain, he continued till he could.

However, despite the efforts, his season took a hit when he was diagnosed with a torn UCL and needed Tommy John surgery. Patrick Sandoval finished the season with a rough 2-8 record and a 5.08 ERA over 16 starts. Sandoval mentioned, “It sucks; there’s no other way to put it. I love being out there on the field; I love playing. It’s just unfortunate.” However, he agreed that one never anticipates an injury, but it’s really common in the game.

“But I’m kind of aware of how common it is in the game. Especially at this level and how hard guys throw,” said Sandoval. Well, now he gets to be with the Boston Red Sox, so he can prove his mantle, and get back strong at the games in 2025 and beyond.

The Red Sox need Tyler O’Neill replacement

The Boston Red Sox need a right-handed bat to fill in the gap left by Tyler O’Neill. He has signed with the Baltimore Orioles this offseason. The Red Sox’s lineup is currently left-heavy, so they need to balance it out by adding a righty player. One name they seem interested in is Teoscar Hernandez. He is fresh off a World Series win with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has been linked to the Red Sox this off-season, but there are whispers that he wants to stay put in LA itself.

But things seem to be at a standstill between the Dodgers and Hernandez. Ken Rosenthal from Athletics mentioned, “As negotiations with free-agent outfielder Teoscar Hernández remain at an impasse, the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers are exploring a number of intriguing right-handed hitting alternatives.”

The 32-year-old is looking for a three-year deal of $66 million and $72 million, and while contract length is not an issue, the money seems to be something both don’t agree on. The LA Dodgers are exploring other options in case Hernandez heads for the Boston Red Sox or even the Toronto Blue Jays. This seems to be the right time for the Red Sox to snag the All-Star player.

Do you think that Boston can land Hernandez and bolster their lineup for 2025 even more? Let us know your thoughts!