White Sox to acquire Jordan Hicks, pitching prospect David Sandlin
White Sox general manager Chris Getz said Thursday at SoxFest Live that he anticipated some deals to be made.
On Sunday, a source confirmed to the Sun-Times that the White Sox are acquiring hard-throwing reliever Jordan Hicks and pitching prospect David Sandlin from Boston for right-hander Gage Ziehl.
The deal is less about acquiring Hicks, who has posted a 5.19 ERA over the past two seasons since signing an disastrous four-year, $44 million contract, and more about acquiring Sandlin, who is among the team's top-10 prospects. Sandlin posted a 3.61 ERA at Double-A Portland before struggling upon getting called up to Triple-A Worcester, posting a 7.61 ERA in a relief role.
As part of the deal, the Red Sox are sending $8 million to cover the remaining $24 million on Hicks' contract. This is the second time in less than a year that Hicks' contract has been salary dumped as part of a trade — he was sent to Boston in the Rafael Devers trade.
The Giants initially tried using Hicks as a starter, but that experiment quickly backfired and he has yet to find his form in the bullpen. He posted an 8.20 over 21 games with Boston but his fastball velocity still sits in the 92nd percentile (97.5 mph). Despite his explosive velocity, Hicks had a paltry strikeout rate (18.5%). But with the Sox' financial flexibility and the ability to get a prospect that they like back in the deal, absorbing some of Hicks' remaining contract is good asset management.
The Sox are getting a prospect they believe has starting upside using some money they freed up from the Luis Robert Jr. trade. Getz has been active since getting that financial flexibility, signing high-leverage reliever Seranthony Dominguez to a two-year, $20 million contract, and will sign outfielder Austin Hays to a one-year, $6 million contract.
The Sox used their remaining flexibility to buy Sandlin from the Sox. Sandlin was drafted by the Royals in the eleventh round of the 2022 MLB Draft. At 6-4, Snadlin has a powerful fastball that can reach triple digits, but he has missed time over the past two years with oblique and forearm strains.