CINCINNATI — It’s by no means straightforward to half together with your longest-tenured place participant. But the Yankees felt they wanted to maneuver on from outfielder Aaron Hicks.
“Difficult decision, one we felt we had to make,” supervisor Aaron Boone stated.
Hicks, 33, was designated for task Saturday earlier than the Yankees’ sport towards the Reds. He was in his eighth yr with the Yanks and was slashing .188/.263/.261 with one residence run and 5 RBIs in 76 plate appearances. Hicks’ greatest season within the Bronx got here in 2018, when he hit .248 with 27 residence runs and 79 RBIs in 137 video games.
From 2019-21, Hicks was restricted by quite a lot of accidents, and he hit .216 with eight residence runs and 40 RBIs final yr. Hicks was included on the Yankees’ postseason roster in 2022, however he suffered a season-ending knee damage within the American League Division Series.
Hicks nonetheless has two-plus years left on the seven-year, $70 million extension he signed previous to the 2019 season. The Yankees could have seven days to commerce Hicks earlier than placing him on irrevocable waivers. He was making $10.8 million this yr and had two further years at $9.8 million on his contract with a group possibility in 2026 at $12.5 million with a $1 million buyout.
“There was a lot of conversation,” Boone stated. “Obviously a tough [move]. Once we have been capable of get Greg Allen — he had an out clause — we needed to decide. It’s been a troublesome position for Aaron.
“It’s one Greg has filled in a lot throughout his career. He’s played really well this year. He has a similar skill set that we’ve seen throughout his career. He’s played the role before, and he’s played it well.”
Allen, 30, was hitting .250 with 25 runs scored, eight doubles, two homers, 15 RBIs and 23 stolen bases in 37 video games with Triple-A Worcester. He’s a switch-hitter who can play all three outfield positions and can possible break up time within the outfield with Jake Bauers, Willie Calhoun and Oswaldo Cabrera.
Allen has hit .232 over components of six huge league seasons, and spent a part of the 2021 season with the Yankees, hitting .270 with a .417 on-base proportion over 15 video games. He was purported to arrive in Cincinnati simply earlier than sport time on Saturday.
Boone knowledgeable Hicks of the choice earlier than Saturday’s contest.
“Hard [conversation],” Boone stated. “Five-plus years from my standpoint with someone. Obviously, he predates me. It’s family. You go through everything with these guys. Obviously, with Aaron, he’s had some ups and downs. He had some good seasons for us. Some playoff moments for us. The last few years, he’s had some struggles, some injuries. Not an easy conversation.”
Hicks, Boone stated, took the information like knowledgeable.
“Quiet,” Boone stated. “Maybe some stage of understanding. I’m unsure if he noticed it coming or did not see it coming. I’m certain he and I’ll join down the street. Today’s dialog was pretty direct and somber. It was a tough position for him.
“End of the day, I wish the best for Aaron. I think in some ways he got over the ire of fans and got through that. We’ll see what’s next for him.”
Content Source: www.mlb.com