On May 20, the New York Yankees announced that they were releasing Aaron Hicks. The 33-year-old outfielder had been a member of the team since the 2016 season.
However, the outfielder’s recent performances led many to believe that it was not a question of if, but rather a question of when he would be shown the door.
In 76 plate appearances spread across 28 games for the Yankees this season, Hicks has only managed to hit .188 with one home run. The miserable numbers represent a sharp decline from Hicks’ 2018 season with the Bronx Bombers, when he hit .248 with 27 home runs and 79 RBIs.
•
“The Yankees have designated Aaron Hicks for assignment, per @eboland” – Fox Sports: MLB
After Aaron Hicks was acquired by the Yankees via a trade with the Minnesota Twins in 2016, many believed he would be a key part of the team for the balance of the next decade.
On the heels of his impressive 2018 campaign, the New York Yankees rewarded the California-native with a lucrative seven-year contract that would see him make $70 million until 2025. Now, the Yankees are liable to pay his salary unless he can find a new team, in which case they will split the difference.
While only 33 years old, Aaron Hicks’ name has been denigraded substantially. The hate campaign was orchestrated largely by Yankees fans, who have wanted him gone ever since fresher, more dynamic players have eclipsed him.
A good example is Harrison Bader, a New York native who the Yankees traded with the St. Louis Cardinals for late last season. After Bader’s acquisition, Hicks apparently complained directly to his manager Aaron Boone about his lack of playing time.
“Goodbye Aaron Hicks” – Frankie G
Hicks will probably find another team, but he will never have the opportunity to start in the outfield for a team like the New York Yankees again. If he is lucky, he might be a second-string outfielder and pinch-hitter for a small market team, maybe the Oakland Athletics.
Aaron Hicks’ fall from grace was a trainwreck to watch
Anyone who has been following the drama with Hicks could have seen this outcome coming from a mile away. New York is an unforgiving sports market, and he just was not making the cut. Maybe if Hicks can keep a low profile for the rest of his time in the MLB, he can salvage some part of his tarnished reputation.
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
