Red Sox Exploring Jordan Hicks Trade Options, Sources Say

This blog post digs into the Boston Red Sox’s current pitching surplus and the intriguing chance they might trade some of their arms. The focus here is on Patrick Sandoval, Brayan Bello, and Jordan Hicks.

Let’s look at why these moves could happen, what the financial side looks like, and how it all might shape Boston’s hunt for upgrades in the coming season.

The Pitching Puzzle: Why the Red Sox are Considering Trades

The Red Sox have a lot of pitching depth right now. That’s a good problem to have, but it also opens up some interesting options for the front office.

With all this depth, Boston can get creative and try to fill other holes on the roster. Recent trade rumors about these three pitchers make it pretty obvious—Boston’s front office wants to optimize.

Brayan Bello and Patrick Sandoval: Hot Commodities

Brayan Bello and Patrick Sandoval have caught a lot of attention across the league. Teams have reportedly been asking about them since December.

Both pitchers are valuable. Including them in trade talks shows Boston’s willing to move established talent if it means getting immediate help.

* Brayan Bello: He’s under contract through 2029, with a 2030 buyout. That long-term control makes him pretty appealing for teams looking to compete.
* Patrick Sandoval: Sandoval’s due $12.75 million in 2026. He’s another piece who could bring back a solid return in a trade.

Jordan Hicks: A Calculated Risk for Potential Reward

Jordan Hicks is in a slightly different spot. Boston seems to be actively shopping him.

His career’s been a bit of a rollercoaster.

* Early on, Hicks flashed real talent as a closer.
* Then the Giants tried him as a starter, but it didn’t really stick—fatigue and injuries didn’t help.
* In 2025, he ended up back in the bullpen, but his ERA ballooned to 6.95 after a shoulder injury.
* Still, his time with St. Louis as a reliever was solid: a 3.85 career ERA, 24.5% strikeout rate, and a 60.4% groundball rate through 2023. The big worry? His walk rate—12.8% is pretty high.
* Hicks has $24 million left on his deal over the next two years. If Boston wants to trade him, they’ll probably have to eat a chunk of that salary, which means the return might not be as strong as what they’d get for Bello or Sandoval.

Financial Maneuvers: The Impact on Payroll and CBT

The money side of these possible trades really matters. Boston’s payroll and competitive-balance-tax (CBT) numbers are driving a lot of this.

RosterResource has the Red Sox at a $197 million payroll and a $266 million competitive-balance-tax (CBT) figure for the upcoming season. That’s up from $209 million payroll and $247 million CBT in 2025.

Creating Flexibility and Targeting Upgrades

Trading one of these pitchers—especially someone with a big contract—could free up some much-needed payroll space.

That flexibility matters if Boston wants to:

* Upgrade second base and catcher: Both spots need help, and the team knows it.
* Add more relief pitching: Even with all their starters, the bullpen can always use another arm.
* Keep room for in-season moves: Financial wiggle room lets the team pounce if a big opportunity pops up midseason.

The Second Base Dilemma: Limited Options

The search for a second baseman really shows just how urgent it is for Boston to find new talent. The free-agent market for quality options? Still pretty thin.

Names like Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Ramón Urías keep popping up as possible targets. But honestly, these guys would only be *marginal upgrades* over what Boston already has in-house.

This all points to Boston needing to get a bit creative if they want to land a real impact player. Maybe that means looking at trades, even if it’s not the easiest route.
 
Here is the source article for this story: Red Sox Have Had Trade Talks Involving Jordan Hicks