Former St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays' Reliever Gets New Role After Signing with National League Contender

The San Francisco Giants have agreed to terms with reliever Jordan Hicks, who is set to move to the starting rotation after a career spent in the bullpen.

The San Francisco Giants have agreed to a four-year deal with free agent pitcher Jordan Hicks, and they will be surprisingly converting him to a starting pitcher.

Per Jeff Passan of ESPN:

BREAKING: Right-hander Jordan Hicks and the San Francisco Giants are in agreement on a four-year, $44 million contract, a source familiar with the deal tells ESPN. Hicks, 27, is expected to work as a starter after spending the majority of his career in the bullpen.

BREAKING: Right-hander Jordan Hicks and the San Francisco Giants are in agreement on a four-year, $44 million contract, a source familiar with the deal tells ESPN. Hicks, 27, is expected to work as a starter after spending the majority of his career in the bullpen.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 12, 2024

The move comes amid interest from the New York Yankees, who had been linked to Hicks.

The 27-year-old Texas native has spent six years in the Major League Baseball ranks. He played five years with the Cardinals, and also opted out of the 2020 season. He then was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays at the trade deadline last season and finished out 2023 North of the Border.

Lifetime, Hicks is 11-21 with a 3.85 ERA. Per Passan's reporting, he's made just eight starts out of 212 appearances in his career. Evidently, the Giants think he'll have the ability to hold up out of the rotation and will have him join forces with Logan Webb, Kyle Harrison, and Ross Stripling in the rotation.

Alex Cobb and Robbie Ray are two veteran starters in the organization as well, but both will start the season on the injured list.

Hicks has one of the best fastballs in all of baseball and regularly touches above 100 MPH.

San Francisco finished fourth in the National League West in 2023 and ultimately fired manager Gabe Kapler.

They've hired former Mariners, Athletics and Padres' manager Bob Melvin for the 2024 season.

Follow Fastball on FanNation on social media

Continue to follow our Fastball on FanNation coverage on social media by LIKING us on Facebook and by following us on Twitter @FastballFN.

Check out more San Francisco Giants coverage at Sports Illustrated and FanNation's Giants Baseball Insider.