SF Giants would be wise to deal struggling pitcher to bullpen-needy team

It was announced recently that the SF Giants would be moving their struggling hard-throwing pitcher Jordan Hicks to the bullpen while moving Hayden Birdsong into the starting rotation. The team may be wise to explore trade options for Hicks.

Hicks' last start against the Arizona Diamondbacks really sealed his fate as he struggled mightily and saw his ERA rise to an ugly 6.55 on the season. Meanwhile, it has seemed inevitable since the start of the season that Birdsong was going to get opportunities to start this season so his chance has finally arrived.

SF Giants should explore trade options for Jordan Hicks

The veteran Hicks will return to the bullpen which is a place he has thrived in his career. As a member of the St. Louis Cardinals he had several solid years as a reliever so it would not be a surprise if he can reprise that role even if it is something of a demotion.

As of right now, the Giants do not need a ton of help in their bullpen. San Francisco currently has the lowest bullpen ERA of any team in MLB so their relievers have been getting the job done so far. Camilo Doval, Tyler Rogers, and Ryan Walker represent a formidable trio to close things down in the seventh, eighth, and ninth inning. Plus, they have other really solid relievers like Randy Rodriguez and Erik Miller who are often used in the sixth or seventh.

It is not altogether clear how Hicks will fit into this picture which is why it would not come as a huge shock if the Giants decided to trade him. He is a guy whose fastball can easily reach triple digits velocity-wise so there are bound to be teams interested in his services.

Plus, the Giants may be looking to offload his contract. His four-year, $44 million contract would look like a bargain if he was a solid rotation piece, but the fact that he is now in an undefined bullpen role means that he is an overpriced reliever.

It is unclear whether the Giants have completely given up on him as a starter or if they would be willing to give him another try, but if they have decided he is going to be a reliever going forward then it may be smart to offload the rest of that contract onto another team.

A trade to move Hicks is probably not imminent, but he could certainly be a valuable trade piece the closer we get to the trade deadline as teams become desperate for bullpen depth. Watch for the Giants to make a move if they receive a good offer.