This mock trade would solve problems for both SF Giants and Yankees

The SF Giants have a surplus of starting pitchers and the New York Yankees are in need of another arm after the season-ending injury to Gerrit Cole. Perhaps the Giants trading Jordan Hicks to the Yankees would be beneficial for both sides.

Cole recently underwent Tommy John surgery and will be out all of 2025 for New York. The Yankees still have a rotation that will include the likes of Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, and Marcus Stroman, but for a team that wants to contend they probably want one more arm.

Meanwhile, the Giants have a lot of solid starters right now. Their rotation will most likely consist of Logan Webb, Justin Verlander, Robbie Ray, Jordan Hicks, and there is currently a competition among Kyle Harrison, Hayden Birdsong, and Landen Roupp for the final rotation spot.

Mock trade could be beneficial for both Yankees and SF Giants

Birdsong and Roupp have looked especially impressive in spring training thus far, and there is even a case to be made that those two should begin the season in the rotation with Hicks in the bullpen and Harrison in Triple-A.

Hicks, a hard-throwing righty whose fastball can touch triple-digits, has not had the best spring training. He has a 9.45 ERA in three Cactus League appearances over 6 and 2/3 innings. That is a small sample size that we should probably not read too much into, but after last season when his stamina and velocity declined as the year went on in his first season as a starter, it is reasonable to be a little bit concerned.

Nonetheless, his potential is unquestioned. we got a taste of how good he can be as a starter last season in April when he was the best pitcher on the team and had an ERA of 1.59. If he can be that version of himself again he could be very valuable.

However, the Giants do already have solid pitchers which may put them in a position where they feel comfortable dealing Hicks to address another need. Here is what a potential mock trade between San Francisco and New York could look like:

MOCK TRADE PROPOSAL: San Francisco Giants send RHP Jordan Hicks to New York Yankees in exchange for LHP Tim Hill

After the Giants traded away left-handed reliever Taylor Rogers, they created an opening for a lefty reliever in the bullpen alongside Erik Miller. There is no guarantee the Giants will carry two left-handed relievers, but if manager Bob Melvin thinks that is a necessity, then having the veteran Tim Hill on the team could be a wise move.

Hill had a solid 2024 season with the Yankees. He was acquired by New York after being let go by the Chicago White Sox and had a 2.05 ERA in 35 games and 44 innings pitched while also performing well in the postseason.

As a left-handed submariner who gets ground balls with regularity, he is the perfect pitcher to bring into the game with runners on base when you need to induce a ground ball and get an inning-ending double play. 

In return, New York would be getting an electric, if sometimes unruly, arm who has flashed potential as a starter. It is a move that could be beneficial for both sides if executed.

This close to Opening Day, a trade like this would be quite rare. But if the season goes on a bit and it is clear that the Yankees are in desperate need of another starter while the Giants could really benefit from having another left-handed reliever, maybe a deal like this could come to fruition.