The Boston Red Sox are still looking to acquire an infielder, and they created salary and roster space on Sunday by shipping out one of the three players they got in June’s Rafael Devers trade.
Boston traded reliever Jordan Hicks, minor-league pitcher David Sandlin, cash and two players to be named later to the Chicago White Sox for pitching prospect Gage Ziehl and a player to be named later. In doing so, the Red Sox sent $8 million of the $24 million owed to Hicks over the next two seasons, league sources told The Athletic. Boston also freed up two roster spots on the 40-man roster.
A team source confirmed that the $8 million the Red Sox are sending to the White Sox counts as $4 million in each of the next two seasons, so the Red Sox will pay $4 million of Hicks’ $12 million salary in 2026. According to Roster Resource, the deal lowers Boston’s 2026 payroll for luxury tax purposes to roughly $258 million, $6 million below the second tax tier of $264 million.
Hicks never found his footing in Boston, with an 8.20 ERA and 12 walks over 18 2/3 innings while battling injuries that ended his season prematurely. Given his bloated salary, he was a prime candidate to move if the Red Sox could find a trade partner — a league source said on Friday that the Red Sox had been receiving interest in Hicks in addition to Brayan Bello and Patrick Sandoval, as the team has been “active” in trade talks to land an infielder.
The Red Sox seemingly enticed the White Sox to make the move by including Sandlin in the deal and taking on some of Hicks’ salary, while also acquiring a Single-A pitching prospect with upside in Ziehl.
Sandlin, acquired in 2024 from Kansas City in a deal for reliever John Schreiber, was one of the club’s top pitching prospects before Connelly Early and Payton Tolle rose to the forefront. The Red Sox moved Sandlin to the bullpen late last year to prepare him for a big-league role down the stretch. He struggled with command, however, and the Red Sox turned to Early and Tolle as late-season call-ups.
Still, Sandlin remained on the 40-man roster and represented a portion of the club’s enviable pitching depth. He was expected to begin the year in the Triple-A Worcester rotation alongside Tolle and Early, Kyle Harrison and Tyler Uberstine.
Boston’s trades this winter to acquire Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo, in addition to signing Ranger Suárez, made parting with Sandlin easier. Sunday’s deal with the White Sox could also serve as a means to another end.
At the introductory news conference for Suárez 10 days ago, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow harped on the need to add a strong defensive infielder. Speculation has swirled around whether the Red Sox can pull together a package enticing enough for the Chicago Cubs to trade Gold Glove winner Nico Hoerner, one of the league’s best second basemen, or top prospect Matt Shaw, who showed solid defensive skills at third base during his rookie season.
Hoerner is making $12 million in 2026, his final year before free agency. Shaw is scheduled to make the major-league minimum of $780,000 and is under team control for six more seasons.
One team source indicated a preference for Marcelo Mayer at third base, which suggests the club is targeting a second baseman for its infield opening.
The Arizona Diamondbacks determined in January that they wouldn’t trade Ketel Marte, but the three-time All-Star would fit what Boston is looking for as a Silver Slugger-winning second baseman who can adequately field the position. Ten days into the 2026 season, Marte will gain 10 years of service, five consecutive with the same club, giving him the right to veto any trade. He’ll make $15 million next season in the second year of a six-year, $105 million deal.
Another option could be St. Louis Cardinals All-Star Brendan Donovan, whom the Seattle Mariners and San Francisco Giants were reportedly targeting in December, though the Cardinals were looking for multiple top prospects in return.
By creating more wiggle room on the roster and with the payroll by clearing some of Hicks’ salary, the Red Sox could be priming themselves for another move.
