The Toronto Blue Jays started their offseason shopping by striking a deal with the Cleveland Guardians. Infielder Andrés Giménez was the main attraction of that deal but part of their return was right-handed pitcher Nick Sandlin.
The Jays acquire infielder Giménez and Sandlin in exchange for infielder Spencer Horwitz and outfield prospect Nick Mitchell. The addition of Sandlin will ultimately add depth to their weathered bullpen.
Background
The 27-year-old reliever has been in the Major Leagues now for four seasons. He is a home-grown arm with the Cleveland Guardians who drafted him in the second round of the 2018 MLB draft.
He was drafted out of college, is a product of the University of Southern Mississippi and plays within the Conference USA Conference. He was ranked at #164 by MLB Pipeline heading into his draft year and was selected ahead of his projected round slot by Cleveland.
The 2018-2019 years was his timeline of development and advancement within the Guardians system. He developed at a good rate, leading to his big league debut on May 1st, 2021 against the Chicago White Sox.
Sandlin is 1st-year arbitration eligible in 2025, and is set for free agency in 2028.
Full trade: Spencer Horwitz and minor league OF Nick Mitchell for Andres Gimenez and Nick Sandlin. No cash considerations.
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) December 11, 2024
Analysis:
Sandlin pitched 57 and 2/3 innings in 2024, allowing 46 hits, 12 home runs, and 24 earned runs through 68 appearences. Of the 246 batters he faced, the right-hander struck out 68 and walked 27. He finished with an 8-0 record, and a 3.75 ERA. The Guardians reliever produced a 95th percentile whiff% (33.7) last season.
Sandlin has four major league seasons under his belt, totaling a 3.27 ERA with a 1.147 WHIP in 195 and 1/3 innings and 209 games. He totaled 223 strikeouts (10.3 K/9) and 92 walks (4.2 BB/9).
The right-hander stands at 5-foot-11 with a wonky but consistent delivery. Sandlin works primarily from the stretch with a double pump set-action and works glove side on a side-arm release. His release is almost from the three o’clock setting.
He has a four pitch-mix leading with a slider, and following with a four-seam fastball, splitter and sinker. His slider is the most used, throwing 349 of them this season; 53 times more than the fastball. The slider sits 79-82 mph and holds a put-away percentage of 19.6% and is not primarily used as his “put away pitch”. The fastball sits 93-95 mph while his sinker is his least used pitch but holds a decent put-away percentage at 22.2%. He doesn’t flash it often but when he does, it drops at 28.7 inches.
Quickly on Nick Sandlin… he has an elite tool (his splitter) and a quirk (his delivery/release).
Which makes him the type of pitcher I love.
He will take up the space in my brain vacated by Trevor Richards. pic.twitter.com/vI9YbdUllS
— Chris Black (@DownToBlack) December 13, 2024
The splitter is his third most offering and values at a 31.1% put-away rate, the highest of them all. It sits at a 1588 spin rate with 39.8 inches of vertical drop. The splitter forces dry-hacks and roll-over hacks. Last season, Sandlin’s offspeed run value came in at the 97th percentile (+9), with his split-finger holding batters to a .100 average and a .200 SLG with a .151 wOBA.
With the Guardians last year, Sandlin produced a 37.2% groundout rate and 31% flyout rate. His stuff is not overpowering but it dances and is delivered in an unorthodox way. The right-hander will be in short relief, averaging 1-2 innings per game, seeing maybe three at a maximum.
Working with the Blue Jays
Sandlin may be a guy to work situationally. He may be summoned on a batter-to-batter bases, with expectations to get his guy. As his stuff is not overpowering, he does get burnt with missed spots – hence the career 1.3 HR/9 rate.
Overall his command is satisfactory, but he needs to spot-up and locate his off-speed well. Sandlin may also be a look-changer, coming out for an inning or two after the starter is pulled. He’s projected to see another 50-60 innings this season.