The New York Yankees have cut struggling outfielder Aaron Hicks from the team. Hicks was designated for assignment to make room for outfielder Greg Allen, who was acquired in a trade with Boston on Friday. The 33-year-old Hicks was batting .188 with a homer and five RBIs in 28 games this season. The Yankees owe Hicks about $27.6 million from more than 2½ seasons remaining in a $70 million, seven-year contract. Hicks had agreed to the contract with New York in February 2019, but injured his right elbow that Aug. 3, missed the rest of the regular season and five postseason games, homering in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series against Houston’s Justin Verlander.
Hicks had Tommy John surgery with Los Angeles Dodgers head team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Oct. 30, and returned the following July for the pandemic-shortened season but was never the same player. Hicks hit .212 with 19 homers and 80 RBIs in 244 games after the surgery, down from .236 with 82 homers and 276 RBIs in 654 games before the injury. His 2021 season was cut short May 12 because of a torn tendon sheath in his left wrist that required season-ending surgery on March 26.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone described his talk with Hicks as “quiet” and “somber.” “This is family,” Boone said. “You go through everything with these guys. Obviously, with Aaron, some ups and downs. He’s had some really good seasons. It wasn’t an easy conversation to have, but one we felt was necessary.”
New York has seven days to trade Hicks or place him on waivers, and given his contract, there is little chance he will be claimed. New York owes Hicks $7,620,968 for the remainder of this year’s $10.5 million salary plus salaries of $9.5 million in each of the next two seasons and a $1 million buyout of a 2026 team option.
New York Trades for Greg Allen
The Yankees traded minor league right-hander Diego Hernández and cash to the Red Sox for Allen. The 30-year-old Allen is beginning his second stint with New York after appearing in 15 games with the Yankees in 2021. He also has played with Cleveland, San Diego and Pittsburgh during his six big league seasons.
Hicks broke into the majors with Minnesota in 2013. He was traded to New York in November 2015 and has a .230 average with 101 homers and 356 RBIs in 898 career games. Hicks said, “It is what it is. It’s part of the business side of it. Just got to move on to the next chapter. … This is a very good baseball team. It kind of seemed like it wasn’t working out for me.” The Yankees hope that this move will allow them to make the necessary adjustments to get back on track this season.
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