White Sox continue to add to roster in trade with Red Sox

The Chicago White Sox continued to expand their Major League roster in a trade with the Boston Red Sox on Sunday.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports this that the White Sox acquired pitcher Jordan Hicks and pitching prospect David Sandlin from the Red Sox. James Fegan of SoxMachine reported that pitching prospect Gage Ziehl and a player to be named later will head to Boston. Will Sammon of The Athletic reports this that the Red Sox will also send $8 million to Chicago as part of the deal.

The Giants originally signed Hicks to a four-year, $44 million contract during the 2023-24 offseason with the idea of ​​converting him into a starting pitcher. While he had a respectable 2024 campaign between the rotation and the bullpen, he fell apart completely in 2025. Hicks was traded to Boston as part of the return for first baseman Rafael Devers and could have been considered an option for a change of scenery. Instead, he continued to struggle, resulting in a 6.95 ERA and a 1.663 WHiP in his 67.1 innings pitched between the Giants and Red Sox, striking out 58 batters with 32 walks.

White Sox receives interesting rebound candidate in trade with Red Sox

There is reason to believe that Hicks could rebound in Chicago. His ERA and WHiP were inflated with a .359 batting average on balls in play. Likewise, his 55.3% groundball rate and 4.35 FIP indicate his struggles may be a matter of bad luck.

Sandlin, the Red Sox eighth best prospect according to MLB.comwas included in what could be considered a salary dump. His fastball is considered a plus offering, dating back to the mid-90s and can touch triple digits, while his slider and splitter flash plus. He has battled injuries and struggled in his first appearance at Triple-A, but could be a solid second or third starter if he stays healthy and his command improves. Otherwise, Sandlin could be a weapon in the bullpen.

In return, the Red Sox received the White Sox’s 14th best prospect according to MLB.com. Ziehl has a solid three-pitch mix that he throws from a high three-quarter arm slot. His sweeper is his best offering, a mid-80s pitch that flashes plus. He also throws a low 90s fastball with some run and a changeup with a strong sinking action that he has struggled to master. If he can leverage his arsenal, Ziehl could be an option in the Red Sox rotation in late 2027.