Cashman ‘gambles’ on Hicks for seven years
TAMPA — The Yankees are betting on their future now. On Monday, they locked up center fielder Aaron Hicks to a seven-year, $70 million deal, marking the second extension the Yankees have struck with the core of their young team this spring.
“We played a bet. I talked to Aaron like, ‘I’m betting on you.’ And he’s betting on himself at the same time,” general manager Brian Cashman said. “I believe there’s more gas in his tank. I believe there’s more mountains to climb, and that’s from an individual standpoint and a team standpoint.
“I feel like we’re fortunate to have him.”
The Yankees now have an elite defensive, switch-hitting center fielder on a team-friendly deal. The contract begins this season, adding a $2 million signing bonus to his $6 million salary. He will make $10.5 million from 2020-23. The contract also includes an option for an eighth year at $12.5 million with a $2 million opt-out.
Hicks, 29, signs away his free agency for security. He has a long history of injury, which could have affected his market value, and the length of the deal has to be attractive considering the rumblings of a possible work stoppage after the current collective bargaining agreement ends in 2022.
It also gives him the comfort of familiarity, which Hicks said was a big factor for him in getting the extension done.
“I felt like it it was a fair deal on both sides. This is the organization I want to stay with, I felt like the team here is the team I want to be with, I want to be on this team,” said Hicks, whom the Yankees acquired from the Twins in exchange for John Ryan Murphy back in November 2015. “I feel like it has a great future. You guys know who is on this team, I think that’s a bright future.”
The Yankees reached an extension with staff ace Luis Severino earlier this month, just minutes before his arbitration hearing. They have a core of young players with Gary Sanchez and Aaron Judge just nearing their first arbitrationeligible winter following this season, as well as even younger players like Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar still years away.
“I believe this team has World Series potential. That’s what we’re going for...,” Hicks said. “I believe that we can win a lot here if we all stay on the field and keep pushing toward the ultimate goal. I feel like this is the team for that.”
The Yankees passed on big-ticket free agents Manny Machado and Bryce Harper this winter even after resetting the luxury tax, in part because they wanted to position themselves to retain their core. Set-up man Dellin Betances, a free agent after this season, said his representatives have had conversations about an extension with the Yankees. Didi Gregorius, who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, is also set to become a free agent after this season.
“Since we’ve reset the (luxury tax) clock, now we’re in a better position to be open minded and try to work through opportunities that may exist,” Cashman said of the extensions he has worked out with Hicks and Severino and those he is working on behind the scenes. “But again, these are big financial decisions that come with a lot of thought and we’re lucky that ownership is directing its blessing on a lot of things. We’ve spent a lot of money this winter when you add it all up if you include these extensions and the freeagent signings, so we’re hopeful at the end when the dust settles that they’re a big payoff for everybody... ultimately the most important aspect is the win column for that fan base.”
And the Yankees believe Hicks contributes to that success on the field.
Over the last two seasons, Hicks posted a .838 OPS with a .368 on-base percentage. He is just one of eight American League players to reach both of those marks with at least 200 games played, joining Judge, Jose Altuve, Mookie Betts, Alex Bregman, J.D. Martinez, Jose Ramirez and Mike Trout.
Last season, Hicks hit .248/.366/.467 with 27 home runs and 79 RBI. He set career-highs in runs scored (90), hits (119), extra-base hits (48), RBI and walks (90). He also set a career-high with a 4.9 WAR, which ranked third among all center fielders.
With a lineup so heavy with right-handed hitting sluggers, Hicks being able to hit with power from both sides of the plate is critical. “All I ever wanted to do here when I got here was help this team win,” Hicks said. “I just kept pushing. I wanted to get into that lineup. After I got in the lineup, I wanted to play every single day. I just kept pushing and pushing.
“Now, I have this great opportunity. I just want to keep going. I don’t want to stop. I don’t want to stop learning, don’t want to stop helping this team win.”