SF Giants finalize Jordan Hicks signing, lose reliever in waiver claim to Tigers

The SF Giants finalized the Jordan Hicks signing on Thursday, inking him to a four-year, $44 million deal. In a corresponding roster move, reliever Devin Sweet was claimed off of waivers by the Detroit Tigers, per the team's transaction log.

SF Giants finalize Jordan Hicks signing, lose reliever in waiver claim to Tigers

The Giants had a need for rotation help given that Alex Cobb will begin the year on the injured list, Outside of Logan Webb, the rotation either consisted of underperformance with Ross Stripling or inexperience with Kyle Harrison, Keaton Winn, or Tristan Beck. That said, this could be a good opportunity for the trio of young pitchers.

The Giants have seemingly filled some of those rotation holes by trading for Robbie Ray and adding Hicks. Similar to Cobb, Ray (Tommy John surgery) will begin the year on the injured list. Hicks, who has been a reliever for much of his major-league career, will transition to the rotation in fascinating experiment.

On the other hand, the Sweet era is over before it ever began. The Giants needed to make a roster move after trading for switch-hitting catcher Cooper Hummel from the New York Mets earlier this week. This move filled the remaining vacancy on the 40-man roster, so when the Hicks signing was finalized, the Giants needed to make a corresponding move.

Sweet was the choice and his time on the waiver wire was short-lived as he was immediately scooped up by the Tigers. The Giants added him earlier in the offseason in a waiver claim from the Oakland A's.

The 27-year-old was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2018 out of North Carolina Central University by the Seattle Mariners. Across five minor-league seasons, he tallied a 3.73 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 10.8 K/9, and a 4.10 SO/W ratio while working primarily out of the bullpen. This includes a brief stint in Triple-A where he has allowed five earned runs across nine innings.

The right-handed pitcher reached the majors last season where he gave up 10 earned runs in 8.2 frames split between the Mariners and the A's.