Angels Sign Veteran Reliever Nick Sandlin to Minor League Deal

The Los Angeles Angels made a low-risk, possibly high-reward move by bringing in right-handed reliever Nick Sandlin on a minor-league deal. He’ll get a major-league spring training invitation.

This signing adds bullpen depth for the Angels. Sandlin gets a shot to rebuild his value after an injury-plagued season in Toronto.

Angels Add Veteran Depth to the Bullpen

Teams never seem to have enough reliable arms these days. The Angels clearly see it that way too.

By signing Sandlin to a minor-league contract, they’re banking on his past performance. They’re not letting recent setbacks cloud the bigger picture.

At 29, Sandlin isn’t really a reclamation project. He’s a proven big-league reliever who ran into health issues, not performance problems.

A Look at Sandlin’s Major League Track Record

Sandlin pitched in four partial MLB seasons, mostly with the Cleveland Guardians. That’s an organization with a real knack for developing bullpen arms.

He landed with the Toronto Blue Jays last offseason in the Andrés Giménez deal. From 2021 through 2024, Sandlin threw 195 1/3 innings and posted a 3.27 ERA.

Those numbers show a consistently useful reliever. His underlying stats back that up:

Sure, his walk rate ran a bit high. But he missed bats and kept the ball on the ground, making him a solid middle-inning option.

Injuries Derailed His 2025 Season

Sandlin’s time in Toronto in 2025 was cut short. A lat strain and then elbow inflammation limited him to just 16 1/3 innings all year.

Those injuries seemed to sap his stuff. His four-seam fastball averaged 91.4 mph and his sinker 91.8 mph, both career lows and a noticeable drop from his earlier seasons.

Encouraging Signs Despite Limited Action

Even in that small sample, there were reasons to feel optimistic. Sandlin put up a strong 14.8% swinging-strike rate, so he could still fool hitters.

Toronto ended up non-tendering him instead of paying his projected $2 million arbitration salary. That felt like a financial move as much as anything else.

What Sandlin Brings to the Angels

From the Angels’ side, this move just makes sense. The bullpen already has a few locks, but there’s always room for competition once spring training rolls around.

If Sandlin stays healthy, he looks like someone who can bridge the gap between the starter and the late-inning relievers. His ground-ball tendencies could really help in high-leverage spots.

Roster Implications and Club Control

Sandlin has 4.157 years of MLB service time. If he spends at least 15 days on the Angels’ major-league roster or injured list, he’ll reach five years of service.

That gives the club control through 2027 unless they non-tender him. He’s more than just a short-term flier here.

The Angels might stabilize a bullpen role for multiple seasons at minimal cost if things break right. It’s a move that’s easy to like, even if there are no guarantees.

A Low-Risk Gamble Worth Taking

This is exactly the sort of move smart teams go for. Sandlin might snag a spot out of spring training, or maybe he’ll push his way up from Triple-A Salt Lake if his arm comes around.

The Angels get some upside here, barely risking anything. For Sandlin, it’s a new shot—maybe just what he needs to show everyone he can still be that trusted bullpen guy.

 
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