The Angels announced that they declined to tender a contract to left-hander Patrick Sandoval, as well as infielder Eric Wagaman and outfielders Jordyn Adams and Bryce Teodosio.
Sandoval, 28, was projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz to earn $5.9MM. However, he’s not a lock to pitch in 2025 after undergoing Tommy John surgery in late June. In the event that he doesn’t pitch at all, he’d likely have been ticketed for a repeat of that $5.9MM salary in 2026. By tendering him a contract with that type of expected payday, the Halos would’ve effectively been running the risk of committing $11.8MM over two seasons just to get Sandoval’s 2026 season, when he’d be on an innings limit after that UCL reconstruction. He’d been slated to reach free agency in the 2026-27 offseason.
While the health outlook is uncertain, Sandoval is clearly a quality arm when healthy. He ought to be able to find a modest two-year deal that’ll pay him to rehab in year one and hopefully pitch in year two of the contract. Just days before his injury, MLBTR’s Steve Adams took a look at the similarities between Sandoval and oft-cited trade candidate Jesus Luzardo, noting that the two are quite comparable from a statistical standpoint.
Dating back to 2021, Sandoval sports a 3.80 ERA, 22.6% strikeout rate and 10.2% walk rate in 460 innings of work. His command has never been great, but that walk rate is inflated by an anomalous 11.3% mark in 2023. Sandoval’s walk rate in the other three seasons has sat at 9.3% — not good, but not egregiously poor. The lefty sits 93-94 mph with his heater, misses bats at a roughly average level and piles up grounders at a strong 47.5% clip. He’s not a star, but Sandoval is a fine third or fourth starter for a competitive club.
Teodosio made his major league debut this year and played in five games. Adams and Wagaman were designated for assignment earlier this week. Any of that trio could potentially return on minor league deals. Sandoval is a near lock for a big league contract, potentially a backloaded two-year deal to cover the second season of his rehab.
Giving up on Sandoval and Teodosio.. that’s kind of a surprise.
@kellin. Really no point to tender Sandoval a contract. I doubt he comes back this year from tj.
Mindblowing. I guess this means one of two things, they really are going to sign a free agent starter, or they’re gonna go full force on a young squad and bring everyone up.
@Kellin they could be reworking his deal. Did you send a trade proposal to locked on angels. These was a kellin128
That was me. I only made that suggestion from seeing it here on MLBTR and was curious what they thought. Funny that part of that trade really did happen.
You are right Rex. I’m not the least bit surprised they did not tender Sandoval.
I’d like to see them sign him to a two year six million dollar deal. I believe that would be a fair deal for both team and player.
@halo11fan. That sounds fair. We could use someone at the backend with Hendricks, Anderson,and hopefully saurez leaving.
Why? Sandoval isn’t going to pitch this year and teodosia’s peak is a defensive replacement/pinch runner
Sandoval had Tommy John mid-season so he was going to be out most if not all of 2025. This was a good move by the Angels.
Sandoval had an FIP under 4 last year. That’s better than Severino and Pivetta had and they got offered 21 million. And Adams just turned 25. The Angels aren’t a contender they should have kept him around.
Those other guys have elbows that aren’t going to require a year plus to heal.
If I may be so bold:
– Angels suck
– Arte sucks
– Perry sucks
That just about covers it. No need for additional comments.
This upset you that much?
Opens up a roster spot for another middle reliever who was good like 4 years ago or another player who can’t hit
That’s all Perry signs anyway
Concur.
That pretty much covers the Angels.
Maybe add, Trout’s going to get hurt.
Suarez over Sando is wild. This team is pathetic.
How does Jose Suarez still have a job??
Sandoval gonna go to TB and be fixed by the pitching lab there, or something silly like that
Sandoval will make a rotation better on the back end.
The Angels are a poorly ran team but I get not giving a raise to a guy who’s most likely not playing next year. And won’t help when they’re 30 games out in September. Keeping a starter who’s been obliterated two years in a row though in Suarez is wild.
I forgot Sandoval is hurt. In that case yeah non tender makes sense.
@holecamels. I agree would’ve kept fulmer, but my guess is saurez is the next to go when they sign someone.
I am a little surprised that Sandoval was non tendered. However, maybe don’t think they resign him to a team friendly multi year deal?
Jordyn Adams certainly has all the athleticism but if he could ever figure out how to hit man. How long do you think he stays in limbo? Meanwhile, that other OF Adell who shows flashes still in town? Why not keep on the minors and see if the right coach can unlock his bat.
It’s about flipping time. This team holds on to mediocre pitchers with a death grip. Sandoval has had moments of decent pitching but has been overall mediocre at best. Detmers should be next to go. I hope Moreno allows Minasian to build a pitching staff ready to compete.
Wagaman actually wasn’t too bad down the stretch. Maybe they bring him back on a minor deal.
Sandoval couldn’t pitch his way out of a paper sack. Finally a single smart move by the worst run franchise in the league.
Really surprised by Patrick Sandoval, given that SIERA and FIP were sitting around or slightly above league average. I’d imagine someone takes a flyer on him.
83 era+ and a 1.51 whip…No thanks.
SIERA: 4.26
FIP: 3.87
xFIP: 4.04