The Los Angeles Angels are hoping that they got a steal for their bullpen in a trade with the New York Yankees for cash considerations.
The Los Angeles Angels didn’t make a blockbuster trade, but they took a low-risk flier on Thursday that could end up paying dividends. As they look to bolster their bullpen for their 2026 campaign, the Angels hope that this move pays off, one they didn’t give up much for. Los Angeles made a trade with the New York Yankees to acquire lefty reliever Jayvien Sandridge for cash considerations, per MLB's Rhett Bollinger. Sandridge was recently designated for assignment by the Yankees, and the Angels had to do the same to make room on the roster as they DFA’d reliever Osvaldo Bidon.
The trade won’t make any top headlines, particularly with Sandridge only making his major league debut last season, but there’s upside with the southpaw. The 26-year-old made his Major League debut last season and only faced six batters. He had two strikeouts, two walks, and allowed two runs in 0.2 innings pitched. He had a 4.66 ERA across three levels in the Minors last season but pitched the majority of his innings with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Sandridge posted a 4.55 ERA with 47 strikeouts, 17 walks, and 16 runs allowed in 31.2 innings for the RailRiders. He has a good record of strikeouts, but his 12% walk rate last season needs to improve.
Here is the full story from Angels Roundtable writer Stephen Mottram on the under-the-radar add.
Sandridge was selected in the 32nd round by the Baltimore Orioles in 2018, but he was among 45 players released by the organization during the pandemic in 2020. The Angels will need to work with Sandridge on his control, and he still has Minor League options remaining, so that gives them some minors depth if that doesn’t happen immediately. If they’re able to develop him into a reliever with better command, the bargain acquisition could pay dividends in the long run.