Cubs Free Agent Target: Jordan Hicks |
Now that the Shohei Otani saga is over, the MLB offseason can go about its business and start picking up steam. For the Cubs, that means getting back to the drawing board and mapping out a plan for the rest of their offseason, as it appeared to be Otani or bust for them this offseason.
With most Cubs fans upset that the team didn't land Otani, and rightfully so, paying a guy 700 million for 10 years is absurd, and it is a contract the Cubs weren't going to dish out. As a fan, you can't be mad at them for that, as that would've crippled them financially down the line. Now that he is off the market, the Cubs must hit the reset button as Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins begin to map out the plan to address their needs. As things currently sit, third base, first base, and adding left-handed power are absolute musts, but so is adding at least one additional starter to help round out this rotation. A dream scenario would be for them to fill all those needs, but realistically, that may be challenging. Another need this team has that needs to be discussed more is their bullpen, as the Cubs could use more arms in their pen. With Craig Counsell known for knowing how to maximize his bullpens, adding any additional arms to the mix will only help him continue that success, and right-hander Jordan Hicks comes to mind as a potential option. Granted, Hicks may not be a definite need, but Hicks is still someone who the Cubs could take a look at and is someone that would fit in nicely for a Counsell bullpen. Granted, Hicks may not be one of the bigger fish on the market, but with the Winter Meetings being officially over, it is time to focus on the rest of the free agent pool as potential fits for this team. Hicks is a name that Cubs fans should be very familiar with, as he spent the majority of his career with the St. Louis Cardinals before getting traded to the Toronto Blue Jays last year. Known for his triple-digit heater, in particular a heater that averaged 102 MPH, Hicks was the Cardinals closer for several years before going through some arm issues followed by command problems. Now healthy again, Hicks could use a fresh start in hopes of rejuvenating his career, as he still has the stuff to be one of the more dynamic late-inning arms in the game. Hey may not throw as hard as he once did, but he still averages 99MPH plus on that heater and could be considered one of the best relief options on the market that no one is talking about. After going through their first losing season in over two decades, the Cardinals started to trade away several pieces, and Hicks was one of them as he made his way north of the border to Toronto. Although his strike-out rate declined a bit with the Blue Jays, so did his walk rate, which is what many teams are paying attention to. His velocity is still elite, but when you look at the command issues he had with the Cardinals, seeing that decline in walk rate is promising, and it could be something that a lot of teams are going to put stock into, including Counsell and the Cubs. Hicks may not be 100% healthy yet, but he should be by the time camp opens and at 27 years old is a player still young enough to give a multi-year contract to. Not only does he have a triple-digit heater, but he adds a triple-digit sinker to that mix, making him one of the toughest pitchers to square up when he is on. With that comes a 91 MPH change, which he used much more last season, along with an 87 MPH slider and sweeper. Although primarily a two or three-pitch guy, Hicks does have five pitches he can go to, and it will be interesting to see if he starts using his breaking balls more frequently. While there are no reports of the Cubs showing interest in him, they should be, as he made less than two million dollars last season and is predicted to land a deal in the three-year, $18 million dollar range. If that is the financial figure he is looking at, it would be foolish for the Cubs not to make a run at him. Should the Cubs and Counsell show interest in him and add him to their roster, Hicks instantly becomes a high-leverage guy that can be used in a variety of ways. That plays into the hands of Counsell and what he likes to do, which could be a win-win for the Cubs.
