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.
Sandoval is 28 and did nothing. He was the opening day starter and now he’s set free– that’s how weak he is and how badly this franchise lied to us telling us how great he is. Go sign Snell, Buehler and a Japanese arm and you have a serious rotation.
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.
Are you high comparing Sandoval to those others? Sandoval was horrible in every facet. He’s won exactly 19 games for his entire MLB career. He’s not going to be able to contribute until 2026– at best. That’s $12M they can use on someone who can pitch right now. He’s not going to make the rotation in two seasons with all the young talented arms we have with more upside.
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.
They’re more redundant that you are.
Suarez over Sando is wild. This team is pathetic.
Sandoval just had TJ and won’t pitch until at least the ASG. Suarez sucks but he will pitch. This was a good move. Cleared $6 million so maybe Minasian can go get a starter that is better than Suarez.
How does Jose Suarez still have a job??
He has Salmonella
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.
Not until July of 2025 at the earliest and he may not pitch at all. He just had TJ surgery at the end of June.
Actually forgot about that, but still someone will sign him now and help him recover. Easier to mold actually when you have to start from scratch.
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.
How in the world do they keep Suarez? I just don’t get it. I would have told the guy last offseason he had to lose 70lbs just to make the club. But he shows up out of shape and doesn’t perform AGAIN and rather cut him loose, sends him to minors, back to the big leagues in September. Why does Perry keep this guy over and over again?
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.
Arte has not allowed a deal longer than 3 years for a starting pitcher since 2011. Even then its been just one, Anderson.
Exactly. No top tier pitcher is going to sign a one or two year deal. But Moreno will sign old declining former superstar bats for a decade. Winning begins and ends with pitching. Minasian knows it, Moreno doesn’t care. Moreno is a marketing guy and he knows people get bored with a pitching duel. They want the excitement of the long ball so Moreno knows that’s what sells tickets. And we haven’t made the playoffs in a decade because of it.
@prov356. Hacksaw was saying angels are in negotiations with sugano. He’s just a Japanese free agent with no posting fees. 35 yr old two time cy young ( equivalent). I wouldn’t think it would be more than two year deal.
Rex – I saw that. My guess is he’d try to get a 4 year deal, which I don’t think Moreno would do. But if we can get him for two, great.
@prov356. He just popped up on a article. Mlbtr is saying 12/1. Most likely could see 2/27 with a opt out.
Well that would be good if Moreno considers it.
What Prov said. 100% Arte said that position players are on the field everyday and pitchers just one day so he will invest his money in position players since that means fans will have a star attraction to come watch play everyday.
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
2-8 5.04 era, 0 WAR. 19-45 career. Massive loser.
Massive loser – said the guy posting in the comments about a player who has made millions of dollars and probably achieved his lifetime goal of playing in the MLB. You might want to reconsider your definitions of massive and loser
what he meant, is that the way sandoval has carried himself on the mound probably leads to his underproduction compared to expected stats. if anyone makes a mistake behind him, he fumes. if the umpire doesnt give him a call or he starts losing his control, it all slips away from him. his presence on the mound is the most important thing for any signing team to have planned for when bringing him in.
major elbow surgery notwithstanding. i do think he is talented enough to put it together as an older, wiser individual but man is he frustrating to actually watch.
He had TJ in June and won’t be back until the ASG at the soonest. No reason to spend that money. Any team that signs him would have to invest 2 years and about $12 million.
Sandoval was not going to pitch for the Angels at least through the ASG and probably not at all in 2025, so no reason to keep him on the payroll. Minasian has cleared about $16 million by moving Canning, Thaiss and these 4. That pays for the $15.5 million for Soler and Newman.
Only increase so far is d’Arnaud. at $6 million.
CBT payroll is at $176 million or thereabouts. Room to add a top starting pitcher. Will Arte allow him ot go over 3 years?
@outinleftfield.lee Hacksaw Hamilton is saying angels are in on sugano. He’s doesn’t require any posting fees.
He would be an improvement over some we had last season and at 35 years old would not require a long term deal. From Hacksaw’s mouth to the Angels rotation. Get it done Minasian.
Glad I don’t have to see Sandoval’s terrible body language on the mound anymore. Good riddance.
Now that Sandoval and Canning are gone, let’s get a mature, experienced ace.
Sandoval showed promise and was one of the more effective pitchers that we carried. There are no guarantees after TJ surgery and losing 1-2 mph for him will likely end his career. From a business perspective it makes sense.