Red Sox Building Postseason Plan on Grave Lies as Boston Fans Make Huge Claim After Jordan Hicks Announcement

When the Boston Red Sox pulled the trigger on the Rafael Devers blockbuster with the San Francisco Giants, Jordan Hicks was almost an afterthought. His move from being a reliever to a starter had already raised alarms, and many believed his inclusion in the deal was more about evening out salaries than adding a difference maker to the roster.

But even then, there was some belief that maybe his triple-digit fastball might have just clicked in Boston. But instead, his time in a Red Sox uniform has been nothing less than a nightmare. And Wednesday at their game against Cleveland, it felt like a breaking point.

Hicks entered and very swiftly gave up four earned runs on four hits, including a Gabriel Arias homer. He recorded just one out. And his ERA reached 8.20 in 21 appearances—and no, this is no drill; this number is real. For Boston fans, if Hicks was ever part of the Red Sox’s postseason plans, then well, those must be lies.

The deal is that, ahead of Friday’s series opener in Arizona, Boston announced that Hicks is headed to the 15-day injured list with a shoulder issue. Instead of him, Chris Murphy will join the bullpen. And rookie Payton gets the start opposite former Sox pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez.

Alex Cora, about the Hicks situation, mentioned that, “We’ve got to figure (Hicks) out. We need him. That’s the bottom line. Because we’ve got Whitlock as a setup man, we need righties in the bullpen to do their job. We trust the ability, but we have to execute.” But the reality is that the numbers are brutal for Hicks, with 20 runs allowed on 25 hits, 12 walks, four hit batters, and just 15 strikeouts across 18⅔ ⅔ innings.

So this is not a slump but a full-on disaster. So, fans are not buying what Cora or the Boston Red Sox are trying to feed them. Because October dreams can’t rest on hope alone, the team needs answers out of the bullpen, not excuses, and not grave lies.

The Boston Red Sox see right through Cora’s tactics

One fan fired off, “Fakest injury I’ve ever seen.” And well, it’s hard not to see why some people feel that way. Boston moved Hicks to IL, and they are calling it a shoulder issue, but the timing feels off. On one hand are his struggles, and maybe they boiled down to shoulder trouble. For a power pitcher, it can happen. But on the other hand, this move looks far too convenient for a team in a playoff push. Whether this is a legit move or a strategic one, the truth is now Hicks is now out of the picture.

“Injured list” means “He sucks and we don’t want him right now,” a person said. This is the majority fan sentiment. The situation, though, makes one wonder because Hicks has been a mess and just had a rough outing the day before. The reality is that the Boston Red Sox can’t just DFA him with two years and $25 million still left. So putting him in IL does help them buy time. Plus, he gets a reset, and the team can avoid these disastrous outings during this crucial stage. It’s something Boston can’t afford now, given that even Anthony is on the IL right now.

“Lol, he isn’t hurt, but thank god,” one fan joked. And honestly, plenty of Boston Red Sox fans feel the same way. Whether or not Hicks’ injury is real or not, his absence opens the door for Chris Murphy, who has quietly been great. Since being back from his Tommy John surgery in June, he has posted a 3.05 ERA over 20⅔ innings with Boston before heading to the WooSox. Down in Triple A, he has held a 3.38 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 21⅓ ⅓ innings. So now that he is back, fans are relieved.

One fan mentioned, “How about calling it an oblique and calling it a season?” And frankly, will it be such a bad idea? Boston got Hicks hoping that he’d be a late-inning weapon alongside Aroldis Chapman, Garrett Whitlock, Justin Slaten, and Justin Wilson. Instead, all he has been doing is stuck-up mop-up work. Now technically, he should return before the regular season ends on September 28, but with his struggles and $12 million a year still on the books, the team might shut him down and regroup for the next season.

Tired, one user said, “I don’t think an IL trip is going to make him good. I get that they wanted Devers gone, but it’s crazy we got absolutely nothing for him.” And the frustration is understandable, because he came as part of the Devers deal. And Devers was a franchise cornerstone, not just any player—but Boston let him go.Now whether it was the constant Alex Bregman comparison, the position changes, or the bitterness that Devers left for the Giants, the fans want someone at par to come in exchange. But they didn’t get that.