Hicks signed a one-year, $937,500 contract with the Cardinals on Tuesday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Hicks avoided arbitration with this signing. The flamethrowing right-hander is capped at 50 pitches in spring games as he stretches out to serve as a starter this season, a role he hasn't played at the major-league level yet. He posted a 5.40 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 10:10 K:BB and three holds in 10 innings as a reliever last season, but he last pitched in a regular-season game in May after dealing with a minor tear in his elbow. Hicks is expected to serve in some role with the Cardinals from the start of the season, though he may need to work in a tandem-pitching capacity until he's fully stretched out.