White Sox-Red Sox trade was highway robbery for Chicago

The Chicago White Sox have made multiple trades with the Boston Red Sox in recent memory, the most notable of all being the Garrett Crochet trade in December 2024. But the White Sox and Red Sox didn’t stop doing business there.

The two ballclubs connected on another deal this past winter, with Chicago landing pitchers Jordan Hicks and David Sandlin from Boston. The White Sox only had to send 23-year-old right-hander Gage Ziehl to the Red Sox in return.

While the White Sox did have to absorb the remainder of Hicks’ contract (which was the reason Boston made the deal to begin with), they were also able to snatch Sandlin in the deal, and based on the early returns, it’s looking more and more like Chicago may have committed highway robbery.

The White Sox have been having some issues with their rotation depth this season, and Noah Phalen of Southside Showdown actually feels that Sandlin could be the next man up for Chicago based on how well he is pitching down in the minor leagues.

Wouldn’t that be a tough blow for the Red Sox?

Chicago White Sox may have a gem in David Sandlin

Sandlin began the 2026 campaign at Single-A Winston Salem before quickly being promoted to Triple-A Charlotte after just two starts.

Through six starts overall this season, Sandlin has logged a 2.20 ERA while allowing just 12 hits and racking up 26 strikeouts over 16.1 innings of work. The 11 walks are definitely concerning, but he owns a much more respectable lifetime 3.2 BB/9 in the minors, so his command issues are probably just a slight mirage.

Sandlin is hitting triple digits on his fastball and finally seems to be putting it together with the White Sox, whereas Ziehl currently has a 6.28 ERA in Double-A for Boston. Ziehl’s control is great, but he doesn’t have the best stuff and just can’t seem to find a groove.

Meanwhile, Sandlin appears to be utilizing his terrific raw talent, which has resulted in the 25-year-old averaging 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings throughout his minor-league career.

Yes, the right-hander is definitely a little bit older, but that doesn’t mean he can’t ultimately establish himself as a critical part of Chicago’s starting rotation.

If Sandlin keeps pitching at this rate, he’ll be up with the White Sox’s big-league team before you know it.

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