Sandoval had an internal brace procedure on his left elbow last July before signing a two-year deal with the Red Sox this offseason. The Red Sox have been impressed with Sandoval’s work ethic during his rehab, and the 28-year-old is already throwing off a mound before eventually moving on to face hitters in a live BP. After that, he will move on to a rehab assignment, and could be an option for Boston, if they need another starter, by the end of the summer.

The procedural move clears a spot on Boston’s 40-man roster for Alex Bregman. The 28-year-old left-hander is aiming to join the Red Sox starting rotation sometime in the early stages of the second half after undergoing an internal brace procedure last July while a member of the Angels.

Sandoval added that he started a throwing program “a couple weeks ago” and is “progressing well” in the lead up to spring training, which is just over three weeks away. The unexpected revelation dramatically alters Sandoval’s potential return timetable as the initial expectation after he signed with the Red Sox last month was that he wouldn’t be ready until the late stages of the 2025 campaign, even in a best-case scenario. The 28-year-old lefty should be ready to contribute at some point around midseason and represents an intriguing stash candidate for fantasy managers as the second half draws closer. With his signature changeup still a big-time weapon, Sandoval seems like a perfect fit for Red Sox pitching coach Andrew Bailey’s approach, which places an emphasis on attacking primarily with off-speed pitches.

The deal is now official. Sandoval boasts one of the most dynamic changeups in the game and represents a worthwhile low-risk reclamation project for the Red Sox. The 28-year-old southpaw underwent Tommy John surgery back in late June and isn’t expected to be an option for Boston’s starting rotation mix until the late stages of next season. It’ll be fascinating to see how he fares in another organization’s pitching development engine, especially one like the Red Sox, who place an emphasis on off-speed pitches.