Catching up with John Schreiber
Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Shota Imanaga. Jordan Montgomery. Sure, the Red Sox had interest in those pitchers this offseason. But there was another free agent that they truly thought was going to be their most realistic - and logical - target.
That was Jordan Hicks.
According to sources, the Red Sox viewed HIcks as a player who was going to prioritize Boston's offer over other suitors. In fact, right up until the righty agreed to a four-year, $44 million deal with the Giants the Sox considered themselves one of the favorites to ink the free agent.
The offer and opportunity presented by the Red Sox, per sources, were both representative to what was ultimately agreed upon with San Francisco.
The reasons for the Red Sox prioritizing Hicks were due to multiple reasons. First, the pitcher was much younger than most starting pitchers on the open market, beginning this season at just 27 years old. Secondly, because they were one of the teams agreeing to let Hicks transition from reliever to starter, the price tag wasn't going be outrageous despite some obvious upside.
Hicks had been known as a hard-throwing reliever through the majority of his five seasons in the majors. He had made eight starts with the Cardinals in 2022, but the other 210 appearances came out of the bullpen.
Yet, after seeing the progression of his split-finger fastball in the final few months of the 2023 season - spent with the Blue Jays after being dealt at the trade deadline - there was enough intrigue from teams like the Red Sox to give Hicks the chance in a starting rotation.
"There were a few teams willing to give me that shot, probably three or four," Hicks told WEEI.com regarding clubs interested in signing him as a starter. "It is the unknown, especially on their side of things. But deep down, I'm a competitor. I believe in that more than anything. Every time I had a good outing I was like, 'Dang, I wish I could still be out there right now.' I would always be like to the manager, 'Let me build the pitch count up.'"
If nothing else, the Red Sox' instincts seem to have been keen. Hicks' evolution has been striking, with the former third-round pick of the Cardinals starting the 2024 as one of Major League Baseball's best starters.
Through his first six starters, Hicks has totaled a 1.59 ERA, with hitters managing just a .181 batting average against him.
"Dude, this is the most fun I have ever had playing baseball," Hicks said. "That's what I knew it would be for me. Every time I had a good outing, I was like, dang, I still wanted to be out there. It's not always perfect, great stuff, but when it is you want to be out there doing your thing and having fun. That's what it's about for me."