BOSTON (AP) — The Chicago White Sox acquired right-hander Jordan Hicks from Boston on Sunday as the Red Sox gave up one of their top pitching prospects to unload most of Hicks' salary.
The key to the deal for Chicago could be pitching prospect David Sandlin, who has been ranked by Baseball America as the No. 7 prospect and No. 2 pitching prospect in the Red Sox organization. White Sox general manager Chris Getz said Sandlin, a 24-year-old righty who split time last year in Triple-A and Double-A, will compete for a spot in the rotation at spring training.
“He’s got a chance to really impact our starting rotation this year,” Getz said. “He’s a guy that we feel can be a starter in the big leagues for a long time and help us win games."
Boston also will send two players to be named and cash to Chicago in the deal that will bring right-handed prospect Gage Ziehl and a player to the Red Sox. Hicks had been owed $25 million over the next two seasons, a liability that came with a hefty payroll tax for Boston.
Hicks, 29, was 1-2 with an 8.20 ERA in 21 relief appearances for the Red Sox last season after losing his job in the Giants rotation and coming to Boston in the deal that sent All-Star third baseman Rafael Devers to San Francisco. He went on the injured list as of Sept. 4 with right shoulder tendinitis and did not pitch again.
In all, Hicks is 17-35 with a 4.41 ERA in a seven-year career that also includes time with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Getz said he is hoping that Hicks can get healthy and earn a spot in the starting rotation, but “at his floor, I think we got a guy that can really help us in the bullpen.” The White Sox had the fewest saves, 25, in the majors last season.
“I am fine with either role,” Hicks said on a conference call with reporters. “I think we are on the same page, so we will see how the role ends up."
Boston had been searching for hitting this offseason — even before losing third baseman Alex Bregman as a free agent — but instead signed lefty Ranger Suárez as a free agent and picked up righty Sonny Gray in a trade with the Cardinals. The moves left them with a potential pitching glut — along with a potential luxury tax bill — and the opportunity to move some arms for hitters.
The White Sox traded center fielder Luis Robert Jr. to the New York Mets last month, and Getz said they would reinvest the $20 million in savings in the team. He then signed right-hander Seranthony Domínguez to a two-year, $20 million deal and added Hicks.
Sandlin, a 24-year-old righty, is 13-12 with a 4.38 ERA in four minor league seasons. To make room for Hicks and Sandlin on the 40-man roster, the White Sox designated right-hander Jairo Iriarte and catcher Drew Romo for assignment.
Ziehl is a 22-year-old 11th-round draft pick who has pitched one game above Class A.
AP Baseball Writer Jay Cohen in Chicago contributed to this report.
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FILE - Boston Red Sox's Jordan Hicks reacts after striking out Houston Astros' Carlos Correa in the eighth inning of a baseball game, Aug. 2, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper, File)
MADRID (AP) — Kylian Mbappé came through for Real Madrid again, converting a penalty kick 10 minutes into second-half stoppage time to salvage a 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano and move Madrid back within a point of Spanish league leader Barcelona on Sunday.
Vinícius Júnior also scored for Madrid after again being jeered by fans early on at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Jude Bellingham, also booed when the lineup was announced, had to be replaced 10 minutes into the match because of a left hamstring injury.
Madrid was coming off a 4-2 loss at Benfica that dropped the team out of the eight automatic spots for the round of 16 of the Champions League. It will face Benfica again in the playoffs.
“We came from a tough defeat, one that nobody ever wants, in the Champions, a competition many of us aspire to win," Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde said. “We wanted to change that image, today we had the first opportunity, and I think we played a great game.”
It was a thriller at the Bernabeu on Sunday, with Mbappé giving Madrid the victory by coolly converting the last-gasp penalty for his eighth goal in five matches.
The result allowed Álvaro Arbeloa's side to keep pace with Barcelona, which won 3-1 at Elche on Saturday.
“It was a victory in which the players put a lot of energy, their soul,” said Arbeloa, who took over after replacing Xabi Alonso last month. “We needed the help of the fans and without their push we would not have achieved it.”
The boos toward Vinícius were subdued after he scored a superb goal in the 15th minute. The Brazil international cleared a couple of defenders before curling a right-footed shot into the top corner.
Rayo, which played a man down from the 80th after Pathé Ciss was sent off with a straight red card for a hard foul, equalized through Jorge De Frutos in the 49th.
Vallecano, which threatened at times at the Bernabeu, also saw Pep Chavarría shown a second yellow in the final minutes of added time.
Rayo, which has lost four straight in all competitions, had lost only one of its last five games against Madrid in the league. It dropped to 17th place, just outside the relegation zone.
Bellingham was on his own when he seemed to pick up the injury. He immediately grabbed the back of his leg with his left hand before going to the ground. He received medical assistance and seemed emotional as he left the field under his own power.
Madrid did not provide a timetable for Bellingham's recovery but Spanish media said he is not likely to recover in time to face Benfica in the Champions League playoffs.
The England international was replaced by Brahim Díaz, who five minutes later set up the Vinícius goal that made it 1-0 for Madrid. Díaz also prompted the foul of the penalty converted by Mbappé.
Mbappé had missed an open net in the 68th, hitting the crossbar after getting past the goalkeeper.
With the game tied 1-1 in the 64th, Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois came up with a crucial save on a one-on-one following a Rayo breakaway.
Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta scored an 88th-minute equalizer as Athletic Bilbao salvaged a 1-1 draw at home against Basque Country rival Real Sociedad.
The visitors had taken the lead with Gonçalo Guedes' goal in the 37th. Sociedad played with 10 men from the 83rd after Brais Méndez was sent off with a straight red card.
Athletic, winless in six league games, moved to 11th. Eighth-place Sociedad was trying to win its fourth consecutive league match.
Pablo Fornals scored an 88th-minute winner to give fifth-place Real Betis a 2-1 win over 15th-place Valencia, which had won three in a row in all competitions. Chimy Ávila also scored for the hosts, three minutes after Luis Rioja had given Valencia the lead.
Seventh-place Celta Vigo drew 0-0 at 16th-place Getafe, which hasn't won in nine consecutive matches across all tournaments. Celta stayed winless in three straight games.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, center left, heads for the ball during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, left, tries a shot during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe tries a shot during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
