The fallout from last Juneâs blockbuster Rafael Devers trade continues to reshape the Boston Red Sox, who have now cut ties with one of their top young pitchers in a move tied to the aftermath of that deal.
Boston on Sunday sent right-handed prospect David Sandlin to the Chicago White Sox as part of a trade centered on reliever Jordan Hicks, further underscoring how dramatically the Devers move has altered the organizationâs roster and payroll picture. The Red Sox confirmed the trade, which brought back 22-year-old right-handed pitching prospect Gage Ziehl, on the teamâs social media accounts.
Hicks, along with left-hander Kyle Harrison and highly regarded outfield prospect James Tibbs III, came to Boston from the San Francisco Giants in the Devers trade, along with Rookie League pitcher Jose Bello. Tibbs III was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for pitcher Dustin May at last yearâs trade deadline.
Sandlin, once viewed as a potential mid-rotation arm for the Red Sox pitching staff, became expendable as the club worked to recalibrate following the Devers trade, which reset both competitive timelines and financial priorities. The latest deal reflects a continued effort by Boston to shed salary and streamline its pitching depth, even at the cost of a high-ceiling arm with notable upside â and notable risk.
Sandlin Reached 100 mph
MLB Pipeline had Sandlin â acquired from the Kansas City Royals in a Feb. 2024 trade for reliever John Schreiber â ranked No. 8 overall in the Red Sox farm system but No. 5 among all pitching prospects.
âSandlin can make hitters look bad with three different pitches, starting with a fastball that parks at 94â97 mph and peaks at 100,â MLB Pipeline wrote in a scouting report on the 24-year-old right-hander. âHe switched to more of a sweeping slider in 2024, operating in the mid-80s with good shape, and he can turn it into a tighter upper-80s cutter. He also achieves nice depth on his upper-80s splitter, which can be unhittable at its best.â
But the scouting report went on to label Sandlin âa bit of an enigma,â and noted âsome effort and red flags in his delivery.â
âDespite his quality stuff and control, he got roughed up for a 5.34 ERA and a .269/.324/.511 batting line last year,â the report noted. âHe has the upside to pitch in the front half of a rotation but also comes with reliever risk and will wind up in the bullpen if he canât improve his command and durability.â
Why Sandlin Was Traded Now
So why were the Red Sox willing to cut ties with such a promising young pitcher, with just 10 days to go before the official opening of Bostonâs spring training camp in Fort Myers, Florida?
The answer comes down to one word: money.
By including a high-ranking prospect such as Sandlin and accepting a low-level minor leaguer in return â though Ziehl was ranked No. 14 overall in the White Sox system by MLB Pipeline â Boston was able to persuade Chicago to accept all but $4 million of the intensely disappointing Hicksâ $12 million salary this year.
The Red Sox included $8 million in cash in the trade, according to a MassLive report. As a result, only $4 million of Hicksâ salary will count against Bostonâs competitive balance tax threshold this year. In 2027, the White Sox will cover $8 million to the Red Soxâs $4 million share of Hicksâ paycheck.
Sandlin occupied a spot on the Red Sox 40-man roster. By trading him away along with Hicks, the Red Sox have cleared two spots on the 40-man roster, which may signal that more moves are coming with spring training just days away.
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