The Chicago White Sox made an interesting move by trading outfielder Luis Robert Jr., which has opened up new opportunities for the team. Recently, they traded for right-hander Jordan Hicks from the Boston Red Sox, taking on part of his remaining salary to snag a promising pitching prospect.
Hicks, who is 29 years old, is set to earn $24 million over the next two seasons. As part of the trade, the Red Sox are sending the White Sox $8 million, a transfer that needed MLB approval since it exceeded a million dollars.
The White Sox cleared Robert’s contract, which was worth $22 million, back in January. Since then, they’ve made several moves to strengthen their roster. They signed reliever Seranthony Domínguez for two years and $20 million, and reached a deal with outfielder Austin Hays for one year at $6 million. They also picked up left-hander Anthony Kay for two years and $12 million, and signed infielder Munetaka Murakami for two years at $34 million. All these efforts come after the team faced three tough seasons, including a record 121 losses in 2024.
On the flip side, the Red Sox have been proactive too. They beefed up their pitching lineup by signing left-hander Ranger Suárez and trading for right-handers Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo. Hicks joined the Red Sox last June but struggled during his time there, posting an 8.20 ERA in 21 relief appearances.
The key player for the White Sox in this trade is David Sandlin, who was the Red Sox’s No. 9 prospect according to Keith Law from The Athletic. At 24 years old, he has experience as both a starter and reliever, finishing last season with a 4.50 ERA over 106 innings. Sandlin was drafted in 2022 and had been traded to the Red Sox for reliever John Schreiber.
The White Sox also traded Gage Ziehl, a fourth-round pick from the Yankees in 2022. He played mainly as a starter and had a respectable 4.12 ERA over 107 innings across three levels last season.
As teams like the White Sox and Red Sox strategize for a better future, staying agile in the trade market is more crucial than ever. For fans, these changes offer hope for a more spirited upcoming season.
For those interested in following the latest MLB trades and player stats, sites like MLB.com offer up-to-date and detailed analytics.
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Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, MLB
