Overview
- Sandoval began a Triple-A rehab assignment in early June and has made five rehab starts, and MLB’s standard 30-day limit means the Red Sox would need to activate him by July 4 unless they secure short UCL-related extensions.
- He is out of minor-league options, so Boston cannot simply send him back to Worcester once his rehab window ends and would have to open a spot on the 40-man and active roster to keep him.
- Team conversations are centered on three practical paths: use Sandoval as a multi-inning long reliever, briefly expand to a six-man rotation, or place him on the trade market while teams scout his final rehab outing.
- Sandoval has not pitched in the majors since 2024 after an internal-brace UCL procedure and setbacks, and he is on a two-year, $18.25 million deal with roughly $6 million remaining and free agency after 2026.
- The Red Sox must weigh short-term roster continuity for a rotation that has been pitching well against the chance to convert Sandoval’s recovery into an asset, a choice that could alter Boston’s approach before the trade deadline.