Red Sox Acquire David Sandlin From Royals In Exchange For John Schreiber
Image credit: (Photo by Brian Westerholt/Four Seam Images)
Just days into spring training, the Red Sox dealt reliever John Schreiber to the Royals in exchange for righthanded pitching prospect David Sandlin.
Schreiber, who turns 30 next month, emerged as a revelatory late-inning option near the back of Boston’s bullpen over the last two years. He posted a 3.34 ERA over that span while striking out 127 batters in 111.2 innings after previously struggling to carve out a role in his first two big league seasons with the Tigers. Schreiber was particularly effective in 2022, pitching to a 2.22 ERA with eight saves, but his command and health backed up over 46 outings in 2023.
The Royals drafted Sandlin in the 11th round of the 2022 draft shortly after he appeared in the College World Series with Oklahoma. He dominated Low-A batters in his first foray into full-season ball in 2023, striking out 33.5% of batters while posting a 3.38 ERA with Columbia. The Royals moved Sandlin to High-A in late June, but a lat injury ended his season after just two starts.
Schreiber provides the Royals another bullpen option with multiple years of team control as they rebuild their pitching following a 56-win season in 2023. Kansas City also added Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo to its starting rotation in addition to multiple veteran relievers, including LHP Will Smith.
The Red Sox, meanwhile, appear to be adding from a relative position of strength to supplement an area of need in their farm system, although closer Kenley Jansen has also been subject to trade rumors entering spring training.
Red Sox Acquire
David Sandlin, RHP
Age: 23
Boston’s system is relatively light on starting pitching prospects. Sandlin, who turns 23 next week, helps change that, as does the addition of RHP Richard Fitts this winter in the Alex Verdugo trade. Sandlin ranked No. 20 in Kansas City’s system entering 2024, but was tabbed as one of three potential breakout prospects with a chance to rise. He also caught the attention of RoboScout throughout the season.
Sandlin relied primarily on a mid-90s heater that touched 97 mph in 2023 with above-average ride. He paired it with a mid-80s sweeping slider that flashes plus and averaged nearly 2600 rpm of spin. Sandlin mostly carved Low-A hitters on the strength of that combination, but he’ll need to refine his upper-80s changeup and curveball as he rises the ladder. He has added velocity since turning pro and has thrown enough strikes so far to remain on a starter track. Sandlin could be an arrow-up candidate in Boston’s system if he can return healthy in 2024.
ROYALS ACQUIRE
John Schreiber, RHP
Age: 30
Schreiber can confound hitters with his jerky delivery and low-slot release from the right side. He attacks hitters from east to west with two separate fastballs – a four-seamer that averaged 93 mph and a sinker with plenty of armside run that is a beat slower. His best pitch is his mid-80s slider that hitters whiffed on 43% of the time in 2022. Schreiber’s stuff took a step back in 2023 – he lost more than a full mph on his fastball – and his slider was less effective. He was placed on the IL in May with a right shoulder injury and was out until late July.
When healthy, he was a vital piece of Boston’s bullpen and deployed in several roles, including closing games in 2022 and as an opener. He could settle into a similar role amid a new-look Royals bullpen that also includes new veteran additions LHP Will Smith, RHP Nick Anderson and RHP Chris Stratton.
