In a pure salary dump on Sunday, the Boston Red Sox have traded reliever Jordan Hicks to the Chicago White Sox for pitching prospect Gage Ziehl and $8 million in cash, per MLB.com's Scott Merkin. The Red Sox also include Baseball America's No. 7 prospect David Sandlin in the deal,
Hicks was acquired in the infamous Rafael Devers trade and will now continue his career in the Windy City.
Even though their pitching logjam is clearer after the trade, the Red Sox could still move another arm in the coming weeks. They are looking to upgrade in their infield, and it's a perfect time to do so. Many notable names are on other teams' trade blocks right now, like Isaac Paredes, Nico Hoerner, Ozzie Albies, Brendan Donovan, Alec Bohm, and Josh Jung. Even C.J. Abrams and Matt McLain are being put into conversations.
With that in mind, the Red Sox could hammer out a deal for one of those names by dangling one of their remaining pitchers. That's why these three arms might still be on the trade block even after Hicks was sent packing.
3 Pitchers Likely on Red Sox's Trade Block
1. Brayan Bello
With Brayan Bello, he's under control with a team-friendly salary after signing a six-year extension with the team before the 2024 season, getting paid only $6.2 million in 2026 and $8.7 million in 2027. He has a club option for 2030 and will be an unrestricted free agent in 2031.
With that in mind, he'll be worth a lot right now, especially coming off a 3.35 ERA season in 166 2/3 total innings pitched, which is his career-high thus far. Many don't realize that Bello is a breakout candidate after excelling in 2025, yet he may never have this kind of season again. So in many ways, the Red Sox need to pounce on his value now before it's too late.
2. Patrick Sandoval
As for Patrick Sandoval, he's coming off UCL surgery, one that he's been recovering from since the end of the 2024 season. The Red Sox eventually signed him to a two-year deal, worth $18.25 million. The promise has always been there for him, but nothing has truly clicked. His best season was undoubtedly in 2023, where he posted a 2.91 ERA in 27 starts and struck out 151 batters in 148 2/3 innings.
All of those stats were his career-highs. Sandoval got close in the strikeout department in 2024, striking out 128 batters, but his ERA spiked up to 4.11. He's always been a strikeout pitcher, but is prone to the walks and the hits. He previously struggled with command issues in his earlier seasons.
A lot of red flags about Sandoval, and it may be a blessing in disguise to trade him.
3. Kutter Crawford
As for Kutter Crawford, he was coming off a decent season in 2024, leading the team with 175 strikeouts. However, he also led not only the team, but the entire MLB with 34 home runs given up on his behalf.
Now, in 2026, he's coming off a rather bizarre, injury-filled season in 2025, where he originally had knee soreness that took him out for a couple of months into the season. Then, he broke his wrist moving things around his house, of all things, and needed season-ending wrist surgery. Long story short: He never pitched a game in 2025 and could take a step back this season.
With every pitcher rearing to go for Feb. 10, some of them are already showing up sooner. Crawford himself is doing just that, while mentoring some of the 2025 draftees like pitchers Kyson Witherspoon and Anthony Eyanson. Unfortunately, he may not last long.
Conclusion
In fact, the Red Sox need to look at these three pitchers the most when it comes to negotiations. If a team is willing to take at least two of these three pitchers, why not pounce on the opportunity? These three pitchers, especially since Bello has been involved in trade talks, could be seemingly on the way out before 2026 rolls along.
Give it a week or so, then we'll see what comes to the surface...