When the Red Sox signed Patrick Sandoval, they knew the left-hander wouldn’t be ready for Opening Day. The former Los Angeles Angels starter underwent an internal brace procedure in his pitching elbow last June and isn’t expected back until sometime in the second half.

Still, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow believes Sandoval will have an important part to play in 2025.

“He’s making a ton of progress and we’re hopeful he’s going to impact this team in the second half, and I think having starting pitching depth, especially quality starting pitching depth, that is potentially available in the second half when candidly we’ve struggled over the past couple of years, I think he could certainly be a boost,” Breslow said Monday. “Then being able to pencil him into the rotation next year makes this an even better move for us.”

Over the past few years the Red Sox have struggled to weather injuries to their starting rotation, often resorting to regular bullpen days and openers to compensate for the club’s relative lack of depth. Bolstering that depth has been a clear point of emphasis this offseason, with the Red Sox also acquiring Garrett Crochet and Walker Buehler to boost a group that returns Tanner Houck, Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford and Lucas Giolito.

Between those six and younger options like Richard Fitts, Quinn Priester, Hunter Dobbins and Cooper Criswell, the Red Sox shouldn’t have any shortage of arms at their disposal. But Sandoval offers a track record of performance the other reserves do not, having posted a 4.01 ERA over 536 innings in his first six big league seasons, including a career-best 2.91 ERA over 27 starts in 2022.

If Sandoval can get back to that level of production upon his return he could be a game-changer for the Red Sox, but even if he doesn’t, he’ll be a valuable insurance policy in case the rotation is once again ravaged by the injury bug.

“I don’t think it’s possible to have too much starting pitching depth and we know we’re going to call on more than just five guys,” Breslow said.

Injury updates

Masataka Yoshida (right shoulder surgery) is currently home in Japan for the holidays but is expected to return to Boston in January. Breslow said he’s making “a ton of progress” and should be swinging the bat by spring training. The hope is he’ll be ready for Opening Day.

Right-hander Liam Hendriks (Tommy John rehab) would likely have been activated had Boston made the playoffs, but with the club out of contention the decision was made to look ahead to the offseason. Breslow said Hendriks has been throwing bullpens and is on track for a normal spring training.

Right-handers Lucas Giolito and Garrett Whitlock (right elbow internal brace rehab) are both at similar points in their recoveries and are each currently rehabbing in Fort Myers. Breslow said he expects both being healthy for “the bulk of 2025, if not the entirety.”

Giolito also addressed his health during a recent appearance on the “Baseball Isn’t Boring” podcast, saying he’ll begin throwing off the mound soon and he expects to be ready for a full spring training.