Maybe, maybe not.
But like I said before these pitching lab nerds like what they like. They don't look at what a guy did in ERA last year or the year before. They look at his velo, his extension, his spin rate etc etc etc. they look at the delivery and the arsenal and they think they can tinker and change.
It's not about what you or I think it's about what the Sox think. They were literally willing to pay him for one full year to be injured to see what he can do in 2026. They obviously see something in Sandoval that they like and that's why I'm slotting him into the rotation. Not because it's my choice but because that's the way I see things in terms of how I think the Sox think and operate.
Now, he may show up to spring training and lay a bunch of eggs and their perception of him may change. But right now, a back end spot of the rotation is his to lose.