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When the Boston Red Sox dealt three-time All-Star slugger Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants on June 15, 2025, the centerpiece of the return package was hard-throwing right-handed reliever Jordan Hicks, known for reaching 100 mph. However, Hicks's tenure in Boston proved underwhelming, prompting the Red Sox to ship him to the Chicago White Sox in February in a move that one analyst described as a clear salary dump.
Despite their eagerness to shed Hicks's contract, the Red Sox are still on the hook for a portion of his salary. Boston owes Hicks $4 million in 2027, a year when he will be in his second full season with the White Sox—the team he helped reach the playoffs and advance to the American League Division Series this year.
As part of the February 1 trade, Boston committed $8 million in cash to Chicago, split evenly into $4 million for 2026 and $4 million for 2027, according to The Athletic. Pitching prospect David Sandlin also went to the White Sox in the deal, while the Red Sox received pitching prospect Gage Ziehl in return, per MassLive.
Contract Breakdown
Hicks originally joined the Red Sox from the Giants in the Devers trade, bringing with him a four-year, $44 million contract he signed in January 2024. That deal pays him $12 million per season from 2025 through 2027, according to MLB.com. Chicago absorbed roughly $16 million of the $24 million remaining on the contract, leaving Boston responsible for $4 million per season—including the 2027 payment that has yet to be made. The contract expires after 2027, and no other Boston-tied salary or bonus has been reported, according to Spotrac.
The trade cleared 2026 and 2027 commitments for Boston, pushed the team under the second luxury-tax threshold, and opened 40-man roster spots, according to The Athletic. Chicago had payroll flexibility after trading Luis Robert Jr., and Sandlin served as the sweetener in the deal. Hicks initially arrived on the injured list with right toe inflammation, then went down again with right shoulder tendinitis, according to The Associated Press.
Rough 2025 with Boston
Hicks struggled mightily during his time with the Red Sox, going 1-2 with an 8.20 ERA and two saves in 21 relief appearances, allowing 17 earned runs over 18 2/3 innings. He issued 12 walks against 97 batters faced—a 12.4% walk rate, well above the MLB average of 8.4%. He finished 2025 with a 6.95 ERA across 34 games for San Francisco and Boston combined, marking his worst season in the majors. Shoulder tendinitis ended his year when he was placed on the injured list on September 4.
The walks persisted in 2026, as Hicks posted a 15.3% walk rate for Chicago, though he finished 3-2 with a 3.94 ERA in 53 games and struck out 64 batters in 48 innings.
Background and Career
Born September 6, 1996, in Houston, Hicks was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the third round of the 2015 draft out of Cypress Creek High School and made his MLB debut on March 29, 2018. His fastball has reached 105 mph—among the fastest pitches ever tracked—and he has recorded 36 saves in a career that includes a 20-37 record and 4.36 ERA across 328 games. Hicks underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2019 and opted out of the 2020 season as a high-risk individual with Type 1 diabetes, which was diagnosed when he was 17.
"You can be diabetic, and you can be a phenom," Hicks said, according to MLB.com's Zachary Silver. That message anchors Diabetic Phenom, the apparel brand he started to support diabetes causes.
Originally reported by yahoo.