SAN FRANCISCO — Jordan Hicks is accepting his move to the San Francisco Giants bullpen but wants to return to the rotation.

Hicks signed a four-year, $44 million deal with the Giants in January 2024 to join the team as a starter after spending years with the St. Louis Cardinals as a reliever. The right-hander started hot (1.59 ERA in April) but transitioned to the bullpen by late July as the innings added up and fatigue set in.

The Giants are making a big change to their pitching staff, shifting Jordan Hicks back to the bullpen and moving Hayden Birdsong into their starting rotation.

And now, Melvin’s list of options includes one more high-leverage reliever: Jordan Hicks, who struggled in his time as a starter but has a long track record as one of the game’s best short-burst pitchers, racking up 33 career saves and a 3.73 ERA out of the bullpen.

The San Francisco Giants made a bold decision when they signed Jordan Hicks to a four-year, $44 million deal ahead of the 2024 season. For the first three seasons of his career with the St. Louis Cardinals,

Jordan Hicks spoke for the first time since his demotion from the San Francisco Giants' rotation to the bullpen.

SAN FRANCISCO — Hayden Birdsong of the Giants came to Oracle Park Sunday knowing he wasn’t going to pitch in the final game of a three-game series against the Athletics. And he’s fine with that. Things are more uncertain with Jordan Hicks. While going back to the bullpen isn’t something Hicks wanted, he’s not going to make any waves.

Something had to give Monday at Oracle Park, with the San Francisco Giants’ perfect record in Robbie Ray starts butting up against the team’s rough time against opposing left-handers. And then Kansas City starter Kris Bubic — Cupertino native,