Angels left-hander Patrick Sandoval advised reporters that he has a high-grade flexor tear and a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left arm. Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com was amongst these to relay the information on X. Whereas Bollinger makes use of the phrase “Tommy John surgical procedure,” Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register says on X that the precise nature of the surgical procedure isn’t but clear. Regardless, the lefty is finished for this yr and a part of 2025 as effectively.
The information is clearly devastating, each for Sandoval personally and for the Angels as a group. Because the membership has struggled to search out constant high quality pitching in recent times, the southpaw has been one of many few shiny spots of their workers.
For the reason that begin of 2021, Sandoval has tossed 460 innings for the membership, permitting 3.80 earned runs per 9 frames. He struck out 22.6 % of batters confronted in that point with a ten.2 % stroll fee and 47.3 % floor ball fee. Sadly, he needed to depart Friday’s begin in apparent ache and was positioned on the 15-day injured checklist with an elbow pressure, and now the choice has been made that surgical procedure is required.
Sandoval certified for arbitration after 2022 as a Tremendous Two participant. He made $2.75M final yr and is making $5.025M this yr, with two extra arbitration seasons remaining. With the Angels having a poor season and no return to rivalry in sight, he may have been made obtainable at this summer season’s deadline and been one of many extra enticing arms available on the market, one thing that MLBTR’s Steve Adams lately took a take a look at.
Now that received’t be on the desk and Sandoval is taking a look at a prolonged layoff. A full Tommy John surgical procedure often comes with a restoration timeline of 14 to 18 months, which might put his 2025 season in jeopardy. The interior brace selection can generally have shorter timelines, however solely by a couple of months.
The Angels will switch Sandoval to the 60-day injured checklist after they want a roster spot however he’ll should be reinstated for the offseason. Assuming they tender him a contract for 2025, he received’t be capable to get a lot of a elevate on the heels of this truncated season. The membership could also be tempted to non-tender a pitcher who could not contribute something subsequent yr, however pitchers on this state of affairs typically signal two-year offers to cowl their restoration and return to the mound. The Angels can successfully do this simply by tendering him a deal for subsequent yr after which for 2026.
It’s additionally one other problem for a rotation that has had loads. Reid Detmers struggled sufficient this yr that he was optioned right down to the minors. Tyler Anderson is having a very good yr however is 34 years outdated and has one yr left on his contract, making him a logical commerce candidate. Griffin Canning has only one yr of management past this yr as effectively. Chase Silseth and José Soriano are additionally on the injured checklist. Zach Plesac has been added to the roster currently however hasn’t discovered a lot success in his first two begins. With Sandoval’s surgical procedure, piecing collectively the rotation will likely be even tougher, each this yr and subsequent yr.
For Sandoval personally, he’ll lose the rest of his age-27 season and a good chunk of his age-28 season as effectively, placing an enormous dent in his incomes energy. He’ll flip 29 years outdated in October of subsequent yr.
