Rangers Pursuing Jordan Hicks – MLB Commerce Rumors
The Cardinals have been hopeful of understanding an extension with nearer Jordan Hicks, however as of yesterday, talks had didn’t progress. There’s no indication but that the Cardinals really feel an extension decidedly won’t be reached, however whereas the state of affairs stays unresolved, the Rangers have been angling to hammer out a commerce bringing Hicks to Texas, tweets Bob Nightengale of USA In the present day.
MLB.com’s Jon Morosi just lately reported that the Rangers have been exploring trades that might concurrently handle each their rotation and bullpen wants; speculatively talking, the Cardinals could possibly be a match in such a deal, with each Jordan Montgomery and Jack Flaherty anticipated to be traded between now and Tuesday’s deadline. Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News offered the same report this morning, noting that Texas may look to do the majority of its procuring in a single commerce. Grant echoes prior stories that Texas has talked to the White Sox about Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly, and he additional provides that the Rangers have a point of curiosity in Sox relievers Keynan Middleton, Kendall Graveman and Aaron Bummer.
Hicks could be the second energy arm added to the Texas bullpen prior to now month. The Rangers jumped the reduction market and kicked off the summer season commerce season by buying Aroldis Chapman from the Royals in late June, and it’s been effectively documented that they’re nonetheless in search of bullpen reinforcements.
Hicks, a free agent at season’s finish regardless of nonetheless being simply 26 years outdated, would fill that want in spades. He’s shaken off a rocky begin to the season and been some of the dominant bullpen arms within the sport courting again to early Might. In his previous 28 2/3 frames, the flamethrowing righty has pitched to a 1.88 ERA with a 31.4% strikeout price, an 8.5% stroll price and a mammoth 66.7% ground-ball price — all whereas averaging a blistering 100.6 mph on his sinker. He’s doing so whereas enjoying on a modest $1.8375MM wage agreed upon over the winter to keep away from arbitration in his closing season of eligibility.
General, Hicks presently sports activities a 3.67 ERA in 41 2/3 innings, although fielding-independent metrics like FIP (3.02) and SIERA (3.40) are a bit extra bullish. Command has lengthy been a problem for Hicks, however after strolling almost 20% of his opponents by means of Might 7, he’s since sporting that beforehand talked about 8.5% price — roughly according to the league common.
Sturdiness has been the opposite main knock on Hicks. Since debuting as a 21-year-old again in 2018, he’s pitched simply 219 1/3 large league innings. A 2019 UCL tear ended that season in June and sidelined him for the whole 2020 marketing campaign, and Hicks has additionally hung out on the injured checklist as a consequence of irritation in that surgically repaired elbow, a flexor pressure in his proper arm, and neck spasms. The 77 2/3 innings he pitched as a rookie nonetheless signify a career-high, and the 40 appearances he’s made this season already mark the second-highest complete of his profession, subsequent to that rookie marketing campaign.
Hicks has averted the injured checklist this season and customarily been in a position to take the ball each time the Playing cards have wanted, nevertheless. He’s continuously labored back-to-back days and pitched on three consecutive days as just lately as mid-June. He’s seen a modest dip in his velocity of late, “solely” averaging 99.6 mph on his sinker over his previous six appearances, although that features a 100.4 mph common in his most up-to-date look.
As for the White Sox group, any would add a gifted arm to the again of the Texas ’pen. I took a have a look at Middleton’s quiet resurgence earlier this month, though he’s been scuffling of late — with a dozen runs allowed in his previous 14 innings. He’s nonetheless carrying a 3.82 ERA, 30.7% strikeout price and 10.7% stroll price this yr whereas averaging almost 96 mph on his heater (and enjoying on a low-cost deal). Graveman, signed by means of 2024 on a deal that pays him $8MM yearly, has a 3.48 ERA with a roughly common 22.6% strikeout price and an elevated 10.6% stroll price. His sometimes wonderful ground-ball price has wilted to a below-average 39.4% in 2023. Bummer has struggled to an ERA north of 6.00 however nonetheless has wonderful strikeout and grounder charges on the yr, with a lofty BABIP and unusually low strand price contributing to his struggles (as I explored in a bit extra element yesterday).
