The Boston Red Sox are sending reliever Jordan Hicks and prospect David Sandlin to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for pitching prospect Gage Ziehl. Boston will also reportedly send $8M in cash to help cover the remaining $24M in salary on Hicks deal over the next two seasons.
Hicks struggled in 2025, posting a 6.95 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and 7.8K/( over 67.1IP split between the Giants and Red Sox. The 29 year old was part of the massive Rafael Devers trade, but now appears to be part of a salary dump by Boston’s front office. He figures to play a role in Chicago’s late inning pecking order, likely slotting in as a setup man behind Seranthony Dominguez.
The 24 year old RHP David Sandlin will join him in the move, along with cash, freeing up a spot on Boston’s MLB roster. Whether this is the prelude to a larger deal, or simply another salary slashing measure from the bizarrely cost-conscious Red Sox ownership group remains to be seen.
Sandlin was ranked as Boston’s 8th best prospect in their system in 2025. Across 106 innings split between AA and AAA last season, he went 9-6 with a 4.50 ERA, with 107 strikeouts. A 6’4″ native of Owasso, OK, the righty was drafted 325th overall back by the Kansas City Royals back in 2022.
Coming back the other way is right handed pitcher Gage Ziehl, who was ranked as the 14th best prospect in the White Sox system last season. Across 107 innings, split between 3 levels of minor league ball, Ziehl posted 90 strikeouts in 107 innings, and a 4.12 ERA in his 21 starts. The 22 year old was acquired by Chicago over the summer from the New York Yankees as part of the Austin Slater trade.
Ziehl figures to start the season at AA for Boston as a starter, though long term projections currently have him pegged as a long reliever or set up man at the moment.
By completing the deal, Boston’s projected payroll moves to $258M which comes in just under the $264M second threshold of the luxury tax structure.
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