Houston Astros Whiff on Another Free Agent Target After Giants Agreement
Previous reports indicated that the Houston Astros had interest in acquiring flame-throwing right-hander Jordan Hicks. However, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic, the Astros were never going to give Hicks a four-year deal this cycle and viewed and agreement as unlikely.
That intuition seemingly has come true as the San Francisco Giants are in agreement on a four-year, $44 million contract with the elite reliever, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.
What's surprising is after being viewed as one of the best bullpen arms available, the 27-year-old is expected to work as a starter despite just eight starts during is career, all coming in the 2022 season.
For Houston, Hicks would've likely worked out of the bullpen. Given their need for bullpen arms with Hector Neris, Phil Maton, and Ryne Stanek departing in free agency, the Astros' bullpen needs help.
Hicks is coming off the best season of his career, posting an impressive 3.29 EA with 81 strikeouts in 65 2/3 innings pitched.
He spent the first half of the season with the St. Louis Cardinals before getting traded to the Toronto Blue Jays.
The advanced numbers back up the season Hicks had. He ranked above the 80th percentile in xERA, xBA, K%, Barrel%, GB%, and other metrics, according to BaseballSavant. His 100th-percentile fastball is what makes him one of the more dominant relievers in baseball.
It's interesting that he's expected to work as a starter given his history, but the Giants must see something. If that role he was what he was looking for in free agency, then that could be another reason the Astros didn't pursue him.
Houston now faces the challenge of finding other top relievers who can help them get back to the top of the American League.
