Blue Jays Trade For Hard-Throwing Reliever Jordan Hicks

The Jays have acquired Jordan Hicks from the Cardinals, adding another high-velocity arm to the back of the bullpen.

The Blue Jays just added some heat to the bullpen.

Toronto has traded for Cardinals reliever Jordan Hicks, as first mentioned by Craig Mish. Per FanSided's Robert Murray, pitching prospects Sem Robberse and Adam Kloffenstein will head back to St. Louis in the deal.

Hicks is a pending free-agent reliever who can reach over 100 MPH with his fastball, throwing one of the hardest pitches in baseball right now. In 41.2 innings with the Cardinals this season, Hicks has a 3.67 ERA and 12.7 strikeouts per nine.

After a rough April, Hicks has been one of the National League's best relievers. The 26-year-old has a 2.67 ERA and 2.39 FIP over the last three months, striking out 39 batters in 30.1 innings.

Hicks will immediately come in and enhance the back of Toronto's bullpen, mixing in with closer Jordan Romano, Yimi Garcia, Tim Mayza, and Erik Swanson for high-leverage duties. With Romano currently injured with back tightness, Hicks can also sub in as closer for the time being, with eight saves on the season.

Heading back to the Cardinals in the swap, Kloffenstein and Robersse are Toronto's 18th- and 7th-ranked prospects, per Baseball America. The 22-year-old Kloffenstein is having a rebound season in Toronto's upper minors, posting a 3.24 ERA in 17 starts for Double-A New Hampshire. Robberse, who represented Toronto in the 2023 Future's Game, has a 4.06 ERA in 18 starts with New Hampshire this year, striking out 8.7 batters per nine.