Analyzing San Francisico Giants’ Gamble Making $44 Million Jordan Hicks a Starter

The San Francisco Giants just dropped a curveball on the diamond, and it landed with a resounding boom. In a move that sent ripples through the league, the Giants have snagged flamethrower Jordan Hicks with a $44 million, four-year contract, as informed by MLB insider Jeff Passan. But the real eyebrow-raiser isn’t the price tag; it is the plan.

The Giants intend to unleash Hicks as a starter, a gamble bordering on audacious for a pitcher whose career has been a blur of fiery relief appearances. Is this a masterstroke of innovation, harnessing raw talent into a dominant frontline force, or a reckless bet on a flamethrower built for short bursts? The answer, like Hicks’ fastballs, promises to be anything but predictable.

The Alluring Inferno: Jordan Hicks as the ace the Giants crave

On the surface, the Giants’ gamble hinges on an arsenal that’s equal parts terrifying and tantalizing. Hicks boasts a heater regularly surpassing 100 mph, coupled with a wicked sinker and a biting slider.

His career groundball rate of 60.4 rivals the best in the league, turning him into a ground-ball machine ready to devour lineups. And who can forget his 2022 outing against the Giants themselves, where he dominated even in the fifth inning, his fastball still screaming at 99 mph?

Jordan Hicks has the raw tools to carve his name among baseball’s elite starters. But here’s the rub: those tools have always found their home in short bursts. He’s never pitched more than five innings in a major league game and has struggled with command, often walking more batters than he strikes out.

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There are valid concerns surrounding this decision, turning the Giants’ gamble into a high-stakes poker game. Can he maintain his fire over extended starts? Will his control crumble under the pressure of navigating full lineups? Or will he fair better as a bullpen closer for the 2024 games?

Hicks as the bullpen’s atomic closer

The allure of a dominant Hicks starter is undeniable. Imagine him anchoring the rotation, his fastball screaming past hitters, a groundball fortress at his feet. He could be the X-factor the Giants crave, the missing piece for a fearsome postseason contender.

Then again, picture Hicks in the bullpen, joining forces with Taylor and Tyler Rogers, along with Camilo Doval. That quartet would form an inferno of fastballs, a nightmare for any opposing lineup. Hicks closing games at Oracle Park, electricity crackling in the air, would be a sight to behold.

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In the end, the success of Jordan Hicks’ experimental placement will depend on whether the Giants can unlock his immense potential and channel his raw power into consistent dominance. Whether he takes the mound as a starter or a reliever, one thing is certain: Jordan Hicks is poised to become a fan favorite in San Francisco, adding a thrilling chapter to the storied legacy of the Giants’ pitching staff.