The Chicago White Sox are betting a bit on a turnaround for their pitcher, who they acquired in a trade with the Boston Red Sox.
The Chicago White Sox have made a solid series of moves to improve their team’s chances in their 2026 campaign. After a few trades in January, the White Sox kicked off February with another trade, gaining two pitchers in a deal with the Boston Red Sox. Chicago acquired veteran righty Jordan Hicks and pitching prospect David Sandlin in exchange for pitching prospect Gage Ziehl. Sandlin slots in slightly higher as the Red Sox No. 8 prospect on MLB Pipeline, while Ziehl is the White Sox No. 14 prospect.
Hicks is coming off a season where, frankly, nothing went right for the veteran right-hander, who started his 2025 campaign with the San Francisco Giants. He was traded as a part of the blockbuster deal for Rafael Devers and landed in Boston to finish the year. Hicks posted a 6.95 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 67.1 innings pitched. He was a starter for the Giants but struggled in their rotation while carrying a 6.55 ERA. Things didn’t improve when the Red Sox moved him to the bullpen, where he pitched an 8.20 ERA in 18.2 innings.
Here is the full story from White Sox Roundtable writer Joey Pollizze on the latest move by Chicago and what they hope will pay off in Hicks.
Hicks is owed $25 million on the last two years of his deal, with Chicago agreeing to take on $17 million due to including Sandlin in the deal, per ESPN. A change of scenery is sometimes the best medicine, and clearly Chicago is hoping that will lead to a turnaround for the struggling Hicks. The White Sox designated righty Jairo Iriarte and catcher Drew Romo for assignment to make space for Hicks and Sandlin on their 40-man roster.