Jordan Hicks sent to Toronto Blue Jays
Jordan Hicks is also leaving the Cardinals! The St. Louis fire sale is up and running. The Cards, after dealing Jordan Montgomery to Texas, are sending their flamethrowing reliever to the Toronto Blue Jays. Craig Mish of the Miami Herald was the first to report the deal.
Cardinals are trading Jordan Hicks to the Blue Jays per sources.
— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) July 30, 2023
Jeff Passan confirmed that Toronto is sending back two righties in Sem Robberse and Adam Kloffenstein. It’s a perfect case of supply and demand after Jays closer Jordan Romano was put on the IL. While the AL playoff race is as tight as ever, they believe that adding one of the best relievers on the market could keep them from losing their two game cushion on a playoff spot. However, arguably more importantly, the move will keep Hicks from joining other rivals like the Yankees.
The idea of Hicks is certainly more enticing than the reality. A 6-foot-2 closer who throws the ball hard is great, right? Yes, until you realize that he’s become pretty inconsistent after all of his injury woes. An elbow injury after 2019 caused him to sit out the COVID-shortened season and return in 2021. However, he was not the same guy. There have definitely been flashes of the dominance we expected. Through both his own undoing as well as the Cardinals, though, it unfortunately hasn’t come together.
The 6 Is All-In
Many have been waiting on the “big year” from Toronto. Unfortunately, they play in the toughest division in baseball in an American League that runs through the Houston Astros. Not exactly a recipe for success. However, if they’re able to turn it on in August and September, then who knows? Remember, this is a team that got knocked out in humiliating fashion against the Mariners in last year’s wild card.
They have the bats to do it. Now, it becomes a question of if the arms they’ve got can keep up into October. While the market has been weird at times, don’t be shocked if they go back in for a starter. You can’t put a price on reliability for the postseason.
One of the bigger names on the market is now heading north of the border. The Toronto Blue Jays are acquiring Jordan Hicks for a push to postseason success.
