The Boston Red Sox have a surplus of starting pitching and could look to trade some away for other assets.
Boston put an emphasis on starting pitching this offseason, as the Red Sox acquired Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo and signed Ranger Suarez. With that, Boston has a surplus of starting pitching, and MLB analyst Noah Camras of Sports Illustrated predicts the Red Sox will trade Patrick Sandoval to the San Diego Padres.
“The Padres could look to stabilize their rotation, and the Boston Red Sox have just the player to make it happen,” Camras wrote. “The Red Sox have an influx of starting pitching talent thanks to a busy offseason. Garrett Crochet is joined by Ranger Suárez to form one of the the best 1-2 punches in MLB. After that, the additions of Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo give Boston plenty of depth alongside the returning Brayan Bello.
“The Red Sox also have multiple players waiting in the wings in Kutter Crawford and Patrick Sandoval — who both missed the entire 2024 season due to injury — and top prospects Payton Tolle and Connelly Early. Thus, the Red Sox can trade from their surplus of starters, and Sandoval, who the team has reportedly discussed in trade talks this offseason, is a perfect candidate to stabilize San Diego’s rotation. Prediction: Padres acquire Patrick Sandoval from Red Sox.”
Sandoval is in the second year of his two-year, $18.25 million deal, as he’s owed $12.75 million this season. Boston could very well acquire a mid to low-tier prospect for Sandoval, who can be the Padres’ fourth or fifth starter.
At this time, there’s no spot in the Red Sox’s rotation for Sandoval, so trading him does make sense.
Analyst Details Red Sox Potential Return
Although Sandoval has been an effective MLB pitcher, there are some question marks. With that, Camras thinks a reliever like Yuki Matsui or a couple of prospects would likely be enough to get a deal done.
“Rather than open the season in the bullpen, the Padres can pounce, adding him to be the team’s No. 5 starter,” Camras wrote. “In return, the Red Sox can add a left-handed reliever like Yuki Matsui, or ask for a couple prospects which would turn their $18.25 million investment in Sandoval into a solid one for the future. …
“Sandoval, still only 29 years old, is now healthy and playing in a contract year. He would give the Padres consistent starts form the No. 5 spot while also adding some variety to the rotation as the lone left-handed starter. It would also give the Padres a leg up in his upcoming free agency assuming the two sides are a good match.”
Sandoval last pitched in 2024 with the Los Angeles Angels. He went 2-8 with a 5.08 ERA in 16 starts as he’s an effective fourth or fifth starter in the MLB.
Boston Has Decisions to Make in its Rotation
The Red Sox have a surplus of starting pitchers, but Boston made it clear they won’t do a sixth-man rotation.
Instead, Red Sox insider Jen McCaffrey reported the team will use a five-man rotation. And, Oviedo appears to have the leg up for the final rotation spot.
“Cora has said the team will not use a six-man rotation, and the Red Sox would like Connelly Early and Payton Tolle to continue developing at Triple-A Worcester. There’s still a chance one of them could push for the fifth spot, which appears to be Johan Oviedo’s to lose for now,” McCaffrey wrote.
Boston opens its 2026 MLB season on March 26 against the Cincinnati Reds.
Red Sox Predicted to Trade $18.25M Pitcher to NL Club Amid Rotation Surplus