Yankees keen to add this free-agent right-hander

admin | December 7, 2023 | Other Clubs | No Comments

Jordan Hicks is a free agent who is being pursued by a growing number of organizations, including the Yankees, according to Chris Kirschner and Brendan Kuty of The Athletic.

After sending four pitchers to the Padres in last night’s blockbuster trade for Juan Soto, the Yanks will probably try to restock their bullpen. One of the most sought-after relievers available is the fiery Hicks.

Hicks is an unusually young free agent at the age of 27. With lifetime averages of 100.8 mph, 100.2 mph, and 91.6 mph on his four-seamer, sinker, and splitter, respectively, he is also among the hardest throwers in the game. With his unique combination of age, speed, and impressive recent play, Hicks seems to be in a good position going into free agency.

Hicks played part of the 2023 season for the Blue Jays, who acquired him at the trade deadline, and the Cardinals, who drafted and developed him. He pitched to a 3.29 ERA in 65 2/3 innings, with a very excellent strikeout rate of 28.4% versus a walk rate of 11.2% that is actually lower than his lifetime mark of 12.8%, though it might still be improved. Hicks amassed grounders at a strong 58.9% percent with that power sinker, almost matching his incredible career average of 60.4%.

Among Hicks’s best seasons thus far in his early career was 2023. Since making his big league debut back in 2018, he has only thrown 243 1/3 innings, mostly because of injuries. Hicks underwent Tommy John surgery in 2019, chose not to play in the shorter 2020 season while recovering from the procedure (in addition to being a high-risk case owing to Type 1 diabetes during the Covid epidemic), and subsequently struggled with elbow and flexor issues in 2021–2022.

Hicks has only twice reached 40 appearances in a season—during his first campaign in 2018 and the most recent one in 2023. Although his durability may not be a selling point, his exceptional ground-ball and velocity rates, above-average strikeout rates, and talent for producing weak contact (career average exit velocity of 86.7 mph, 31.3% hard-hit rate) together with his relative youth give him a sense of promise.

Perhaps because of this, a sizable number of clubs have expressed interest. This week alone, Hicks has been connected to the Astros, Angels, Rangers, Red Sox, and Orioles. Before Hicks was traded to the Toronto in the summer, Katie Woo of The Athletic revealed back in October that he and the Cardinals had almost to an agreement on a three-year deal. Since the Cardinals are known to be looking for bullpen help, it makes sense that they would also be considered.

The Yankees’ signing of Clay Holmes, Zach Britton, Wandy Peralta, and other players throughout the years has demonstrated their penchant for high-end ground-ball rates. Hicks would be another addition in that line, if not more well-known than Peralta and Holmes (though maybe not as well-known as Britton). Notwithstanding his history of injuries, Hicks is still in such high demand that a three-year contract appears to be the minimum, and a longer agreement may be demanded of him.

According to Roster Resource’s predictions, the Yankees’ luxury-tax ledger checks in slightly under $289 million after last night’s purchase of Soto. Up to $297 million, the Yankees would pay taxes at a rate of 90%, and for every dollar over that amount, they would pay an astounding 110%. For example, if the Yankees signed Hicks for $10 million a year, they would have to pay about $19.6 million for the 2024 season.

The Yankees are still looking to improve their bullpen and rotation, especially with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, even though they were aware of this when they acquired Trent Grisham and Soto from the Padres. While it doesn’t appear that those taxes will be a significant impediment, it’s nevertheless important to bring them up as the Yankees continue to try to recover from a dismal 2023 season.