The 2025 season could also be over for 2 members of the Crimson Sox pitching workers and 60-day injured checklist. In talking with the Boston Globe’s Tim Healey and different reporters right this moment, Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and supervisor Alex Cora each indicated that left-hander Patrick Sandoval and right-hander Liam Hendriks aren’t more likely to pitch this yr.
Sandoval underwent an inside brace process on his left UCL final July, so the southpaw was assured to want at the least a full yr of restoration time. As a result of brace procedures typically require 12-13 months of rehab slightly than the 13-15 month timelines related to full Tommy John procedures, there was some thought that Sandoval might doubtlessly make it again earlier than the tip of the 2025 marketing campaign.
Nonetheless, Cora indicated final week that Sandoval’s throwing development had been scaled again from bullpen classes to simply video games of catch. The setback has now seemingly elongated Sandoval’s timeline to the purpose that he virtually absolutely received’t be absolutely ramped up (after bullpens, simulated video games, minor league rehab video games, and so on.) to be prepared earlier than the tip of September.
The Angels selected to non-tender Sandoval final winter, and the Crimson Sox signed him to a two-year, $18.25MM free agent deal. Simply $5.5MM of that wage was owed for 2025, as the concept was that Sandoval can be lacking at the least the primary 4 months of the season anyway. Whereas this final result isn’t sudden, it’s absolutely a disappointment to Sandoval that his UCL harm has continued to go away him on the sidelines.
Hendriks can sympathize, because the nearer’s battle with most cancers after which a Tommy John surgical procedure restricted him to 5 MLB innings in 2023 after which value him the whole lot of the 2024 season. Much like Sandoval, Hendriks’ hopes of a late-season return have been dashed by some continued arm soreness, after which his return in 2025 was delayed by elbow irritation throughout Spring Coaching. Upon lastly returning to the mound and making his official Crimson Sox debut, Hendriks posted a 6.59 ERA over 14 video games and 13 2/3 innings earlier than hip irritation despatched him again to the IL in late Might.
Hendriks signed a two-year, $10MM take care of the Crimson Sox in February 2024 that, like Sandoval’s contract, was backloaded. He earned $2MM whereas rehabbing in 2024 after which is incomes $6MM this yr, plus there’s a $2MM buyout of a $12MM mutual choice for the 2026 season. The Sox are a lock to say no their finish of the choice given Hendriks’ continued harm owes, and the previous three-time All-Star will in all probability must accept a minor league deal in free company this coming offseason.
