Angels Acquire Lefty Jayvien Sandridge from Yankees for Cash

The Los Angeles Angels keep shuffling their roster, searching for bullpen stability and a little more depth. They’ve made some low-risk moves lately, showing a club still tinkering with its pitching staff.

The latest deal brings in a young lefty from the Yankees. A familiar right-handed arm gets pushed off the roster, a reminder of how quickly things change on the Angels’ 40-man heading into the season.

Angels Add Left-Handed Relief Depth

The big move here: the Angels picked up left-handed reliever Jayvien Sandridge from the Yankees for cash. It’s a classic depth play—cheap, flexible, and maybe with some upside if it all clicks.

Sandridge is just 26. He fits the mold of what teams want in the bullpen these days. He made his MLB debut last season, though it was a quick look—two runs, two strikeouts, and just two outs on July 5. Not much to judge, but he flashed some raw stuff against big-league hitters.

Evaluating Sandridge’s Skill Set

Last year in the minors, Sandridge put up a 4.66 ERA over 36 2/3 innings. He struck out 54 and walked 19. Most of that came at Triple-A, where he threw 31 2/3 innings and probably pitched a bit better than the ERA says.

His arsenal is what grabs you. Sandridge’s four-seamer averaged 95.6 mph in his lone MLB outing. He mixes in a slider, sinker, and splitter. At Triple-A in 2025, he posted a 16.5% swinging-strike rate—that’s real bat-missing stuff.

Roster Flexibility Works in Sandridge’s Favor

One big reason the Angels like Sandridge? Flexibility. He’s still got minor-league options, so they can send him up and down without worrying about losing him on waivers.

For a bullpen that’s been in constant motion, that kind of flexibility is gold. Sandridge doesn’t have to be perfect right now. He just needs to be ready when the call comes.

Bido Designated to Clear 40-Man Spot

To fit Sandridge onto the 40-man, the Angels designated right-hander Osvaldo Bido for assignment. Bido, 30, had just arrived from the Marlins on a waiver claim earlier in the week. His stay didn’t last long.

Bido has a 5.07 career ERA and 179 strikeouts over 193 2/3 big-league innings. He’s worked as both a starter and reliever, but inconsistency has followed him, and the Angels decided to bet on upside and flexibility instead.

What Bido’s DFA Signals

This move shows just how tight the fight is for pitching spots. Even experienced arms can get squeezed out when teams want youth and option years.

More Bullpen Shuffling: Kaleb Ort and Wade Meckler

Sandridge isn’t the only new pitcher. The Angels also claimed right-hander Kaleb Ort off waivers from the Yankees. They seem to be targeting hard throwers who might break out in a new setting.

Ort Competing for a Role

Ort will get his shot at a bullpen job after posting a 4.89 ERA in 46 innings last season. His four-seamer averaged 96.4 mph, and that kind of velocity is always tempting late in games.

To make space for Ort, the Angels designated outfielder Wade Meckler for assignment. Meckler, who came over from the Giants, hasn’t played in the majors since 2023, so he was an easy cut in a roster crunch.

Final Take: Low-Risk Moves with Potential Upside

None of these transactions scream blockbuster. Still, together they show how the Angels are thinking right now.

By cycling through arms like Sandridge and Ort, the club bets on stuff, youth, and flexibility. They’re not afraid to try something different, even if the names don’t pop off the page.

If even one of these pitchers clicks, the Angels might find a valuable bullpen piece without giving up prospects or blowing the payroll. That’s the kind of quiet move that sometimes pays off during a long season.

 
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