The Boston Red Sox have prioritized pitching this offseason, highlighted by their December 11 trade in which they sent four top minor league prospects to acquire former White Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet, the most sought-after pitcher on the trade market. However, since that move, their efforts to strengthen the starting rotation have stalled.
The only addition to a rotation that averaged just five innings per start in 2024 is Patrick Sandoval, a 28-year-old pitcher who may not contribute any innings in 2025. According to media reports, the Red Sox signed Sandoval on Friday after he spent his entire career with the Los Angeles Angels.
Latest Pitching Addition Unlikely to Contribute in 2025
According to MLB.com, Patrick Sandoval emerged as a reliable part of the Angels’ rotation, establishing himself as their second-best starter behind Shohei Ohtani from 2021-2023. During that stretch, Sandoval posted a 3.53 ERA and struck out 373 batters over 380 1/3 innings.
The downside, however, is that Sandoval is currently rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. He’s not expected to return until several months into the 2025 season, with the possibility of missing the entire year and remaining sidelined until the start of 2026.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox missed out on another potential trade target for their rotation. According to NESN, Jesús Luzardo, a 27-year-old left-hander who spent the last four seasons with the Miami Marlins, has been traded to the Philadelphia Phillies, a leading National League contender.
The deal was orchestrated by former Red Sox President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski, now holding the same position with the Phillies. Dombrowski, who led the Red Sox to three straight AL East titles and a 2018 World Series championship during his tenure, has a reputation for bold moves. However, his aggressive trades depleted Boston’s farm system, which reportedly contributed to his dismissal less than a year after their championship run.
Phillies Dealt High-Ranking Prospect for Luzardo
To acquire Jesús Luzardo from the Marlins, Dombrowski parted with the Phillies’ fourth-ranked prospect, Dominican shortstop Starlyn Caba, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia. However, reporter Corey Seidman deemed the trade well worth the cost.
“The Phillies needed a fifth starter, but Luzardo is much more than that — closer to a Number Two when healthy,” Seidman wrote, noting that Luzardo recently declared himself fully recovered after missing the final 3 1/2 months of the season with a back injury. Seidman also highlighted Luzardo’s reasonable $8.6 million salary for 2025 and emphasized how his addition “immediately upgrades the Phillies’ rotation, taking it from one of the best in baseball to probably the best.”
Would Luzardo have transformed the Red Sox rotation into baseball’s best? With the addition of Garrett Crochet and given that last year’s Red Sox starters matched Philadelphia’s ERA (3.81), it’s a possibility. But Boston will never know, as their former baseball chief, Dave Dombrowski, beat them to the punch once again.
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