Red Sox Swing 12th Trade of the Offseason, Clear Salary and Add Gage Ziehl in Prospect Swap with White Sox

The Boston Red Sox have made their 12th trade of the offseason, this time unloading a high-priced relief pitcher in a salary dump deal while bringing in a promising prospect. On Sunday, the Red Sox announced that they had traded right-handers Jordan Hicks and David Sandlin, along with two players to be named later, to the Chicago White Sox. In return, Boston acquires minor league right-hander Gage Ziehl and a player to be named later. The deal also includes an $8 million cash payment from the Red Sox to the White Sox, who will take on the remaining $16 million of the $24 million owed to Hicks over the next two years.

This trade, first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan, represents another step in the Red Sox’s aggressive offseason strategy of retooling their roster, particularly when it comes to financial flexibility and adding future talent. The move opens up two spots on the Red Sox’s 40-man roster, which now sits at 38.

Hicks’ Struggles and Financial Flexibility

Jordan Hicks, once known for his blistering fastball and dominant presence in the bullpen, came to the Red Sox in the Rafael Devers trade. He was expected to bolster the team’s relief corps, but his tenure in Boston was marked by struggles. Over the 2025 season, Hicks posted a dismal 6.95 ERA in 67 1/3 innings, with a particularly rough stretch in Boston, where his ERA ballooned to 8.20 in just 18 2/3 innings. Despite his previous track record, Hicks’ performance with the Red Sox was far from what the team had hoped.

With Hicks still owed $12 million per year for the next two seasons, the Red Sox were faced with a dilemma: hold on to a struggling pitcher with a hefty price tag or cut their losses and create space for other bullpen options. By trading Hicks to the White Sox, Boston not only opens up a bullpen spot but also clears significant salary from their books, helping to provide more financial flexibility moving forward.

The Red Sox will now focus on restructuring their bullpen without the burden of Hicks’ contract, and Hicks will get a fresh start with the White Sox, who will cover the remaining $16 million owed to him.

The Departure of Sandlin and the Return of Ziehl

Along with Hicks, the Red Sox also sent pitcher David Sandlin to the White Sox. Sandlin, 24, was added to the Red Sox’s 40-man roster in November to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. He was acquired from the Kansas City Royals in the trade for John Schreiber and spent 2025 in the minor leagues, posting a 4.50 ERA over 106 innings split between Double-A and Triple-A. Sandlin had shown potential, but with the Red Sox’s crowded pitching roster, he became expendable as part of this deal. Entering 2026, Sandlin was ranked as Boston’s No. 11 prospect by Baseball America.

In return, the Red Sox receive Gage Ziehl, a 22-year-old right-handed pitcher who ranked as the No. 21 prospect in the White Sox system. Ziehl was originally drafted by the New York Yankees in the fourth round of the 2024 MLB Draft, but after a trade involving outfielder Austin Slater, he found himself with Chicago.

Ziehl had a solid first full season in professional baseball, posting a 4.12 ERA over 107 innings (22 outings, 21 starts). His performance included a 4.01 ERA in six starts with the White Sox’s High-A affiliate after the trade. While Ziehl’s numbers don’t immediately scream top-tier prospect, his potential is evident. The 6-foot right-hander has the tools to develop into a solid contributor for the Red Sox, particularly if he can refine his secondary pitches and command in the coming years.

Financial Implications and Future Outlook

Following this trade, the Red Sox’s payroll is estimated at $260.9 million, according to Red Sox Payroll. While the deal helps the team clear some of their financial obligations for the 2026 season, it also represents a longer-term strategy of focusing on building depth with younger, controllable assets. Ziehl, as a relatively unproven prospect, is more affordable and provides the Red Sox with a potential future asset that could pay off in the coming seasons.

With the Red Sox continuing to refine their roster and build for both the present and future, the trade for Ziehl highlights their focus on acquiring younger talent with upside, rather than continuing to invest heavily in aging or underperforming players. This deal also further solidifies the team’s intent to develop their pitching depth, which will be crucial for sustaining success over the long haul.

The Road Ahead for the Red Sox

While the trade of Hicks and Sandlin clears significant salary from the books, it also leaves the Red Sox with important decisions to make regarding the bullpen and pitching staff. The team’s focus on flexibility and future development suggests they are not done making moves, and there could be additional trades or free-agent signings in the near future to address the remaining holes on the roster.

For Hicks, the change of scenery with the White Sox could help him rediscover his form, but for the Red Sox, the immediate benefit is the creation of more financial space and an opportunity to evaluate younger, more controllable assets like Ziehl. This trade, while a salary dump in some respects, also demonstrates the Red Sox’s willingness to move on from underperforming contracts in favor of building for the future—something that could pay off as they continue their push for long-term success.

As the offseason continues, the Red Sox will likely continue to focus on their overall roster construction, but this trade marks another step in their larger strategy of balancing financial flexibility with the development of younger talent for the future.