The Chicago White Sox continued reshaping their roster Sunday by acquiring right-hander Jordan Hicks and pitching prospect David Sandlin in a trade with the Boston Red Sox, reinforcing a bullpen-first strategy as the organization advances through its rebuild. (Source)

Chicago traded Minor League pitcher Gage Ziehl and a player to be named later to Boston in exchange for $8 million in cash. The financial element proved critical, as Hicks is owed $24 million over the next two seasons, mitigating the payroll hit for a White Sox team that is carefully managing flexibility during its rebuild.

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Why Jordan Hicks Fits Chicago’s Plan

At 29, Hicks has one of baseball’s hardest fastballs and recent experience in both starting and relief positions. Last season, he had a 6.95 ERA in 34 appearances for the San Francisco Giants and Boston. After starting 29 of 42 games for San Francisco since 2024, Hicks has returned to the Red Sox’s bullpen full-time.

That role matters in Chicago. The White Sox are not positioning themselves as immediate contenders, but they have prioritized stabilizing late innings. Hicks now joins a bullpen mix that already includes Seranthony Dominguez, with Sean Newcomb and Chris Murphy also potentially factoring into relief depth.

For a rebuilding club, Hicks offers two clear paths: short-term leverage innings or a midseason trade chip if his velocity-driven profile rebounds.

David Sandlin Adds Needed Upside

The more understated piece of the deal may be Sandlin. Ranked as Boston’s No. 8 prospect in MLB Pipeline’s most recent organizational update, the right-hander adds swing-and-miss upside to a White Sox system still reshaping its pitching identity.

Sandlin’s strikeout ability and athletic delivery give Chicago another developmental arm capable of rising quickly if command gains hold. In a rebuild, controllable pitching depth matters as much as headline names.

Gage Ziehl’s Departure and the Financial Angle

Ziehl, 22, ranked No. 14 in the White Sox system, departs after a solid 2025 Minor League season. He went 7–6 with a 4.12 ERA across 22 games (21 starts) at three levels. Originally selected by the New York Yankees in the fourth round of the 2024 Draft, Ziehl reached Chicago via last summer’s deal for Austin Slater.

Chicago’s willingness to move Ziehl reflects a broader organizational pivot: converting surplus or mid-tier prospects into major-league bullpen arms while reallocating payroll efficiently. Some of the savings from the $22 million sent out in the Luis Robert Jr. trade to the New York Mets helped facilitate this move.

What This Trade Says About the White Sox

The White Sox are not chasing a quick fix. Instead, they are assembling functional pieces that stabilize the roster while keeping future options open. Adding Hicks strengthens the bullpen immediately, Sandlin deepens the pitching pipeline, and the financial structure maintains flexibility.

This was not a splash for headlines. It was a calculated step in a methodical rebuild—one that values arms, options, and adaptability over shortcuts.

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