The Angels have signed RH reliever Nick Sandlin to a minor league deal with a spring training invite. Sandlin, 29, pitched in 19 games with TOR last season, with a 2.20 ERA. Career 3.19 ERA in parts of five MLB seasons.
Former Blue Jay Nick Sandlin signs minor league deal with Angels
Photo credit: © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Jan 27, 2026, 07:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 26, 2026, 22:26 EST
The Los Angeles Angels have signed another former Toronto Blue Jay pitcher.
On Monday afternoon, Orange County Register’s Jeff Fletcher reported that the Angels have signed Nick Sandlin to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training. Earlier this off-season, the Blue Jays outrighted the right-handed pitcher, making him a free agent.
Sandlin was acquired by the Blue Jays alongside Andrés Giménez during the 2024 Winter Meetings. He had posted an ERA of 3.75 in both 2023 and 2024, but had a FIP up around 5 in both seasons. Sandlin’s best season before joining the Jays was in 2022, when he had a 2.25 ERA and 3.68 FIP in 44 innings pitched.
When healthy, Sandlin was solid in 2025, finishing the season with a 2.20 ERA and 4.60 FIP in 16.1 innings pitched. After eight innings over 10 outings, Sandlin was placed on the injured list. Sandlin returned after two months, but pitched just another eight and one-third innings with the Jays before hitting the injured list again, spending the rest of the season on the shelf.
That injury turned out to be an elbow injury. What’s more is that Sandlin was projected to earn $2 million in arbitration according to MLB Trade Rumors. So shortly before the non-tender deadline, the Jays outrighted him and Sandlin elected free agency.
There are two other former Blue Jay pitchers who’ve joined the Angels this off-season. Starter Alek Manoah signed with the team in early December after missing all of the 2025 season recovering from Tommy John. The 28-year-old is still looking to find the form he had in 2022 when he finished as a finalist for the American League Cy Young award.
Former Blue Jay closer Jordan Romano also signed with the Angels in December. The 32-year-old was non-tendered by the Jays in 2024, and he pitched for the Phillies in 2025. In 49 games, Romano had an 8.23 ERA and 5.39 FIP in 42.2 innings pitched, his second consecutive season with an elevated ERA.
All three pitchers join former Blue Jays starter Yusei Kikuchi, who pitched with the team from 2022 until 2024. After being traded to the Houston Astros ahead of the 2024 deadline, Kikuchi signed with the Angels last off-season.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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