Hicks agrees to major-league deal with Angels
The Yankees are getting some bullpen depth from a rival.
The team has claimed Matt Gage off waivers from the Astros. Upon announcing the move, the Yankees designated Diego Castillo for assignment.
A Johnstown, New York native, Gage went to Siena College before the Giants used a 10th-round pick on the southpaw in 2014. The 30-year-old debuted with the Blue Jays in 2022.
Gage owns a 1.83 ERA over 16 games and 19.2 innings in the majors. That includes five appearances for the Astros last season.
While the sample is incredibly small, the Yankees have to like that Gage has struck
Aaron Hicks can use the Yankees’ money to move back home.
The outfielder has agreed to a major-league deal with the Angels, according to SoCal News Group’s Jeff Fletcher. Hicks grew up near Anaheim, as he is from San Pedro, California and went to high school in Long Beach.
The Angels will pay Hicks the minimum, as the 34-year-old is still collecting checks from the Yankees. The Bombers released him last May despite having to eat the remaining three years and nearly $30 million left on the seven-year, $70 million extension he signed after a career year in 2018.
Things quickly fell apart for Hicks after inking the extension. Fans turned against him following prolonged struggles and various injuries. Still, he had a chance to claim the Yankees’ left-field job last spring following an abysmal 2022 that saw him hit .216, but he was even worse in pinstripes last year, hitting .188 over 28 games before being dumped.
The playoff-bound Orioles took a chance on the switch-hitter, which proved fruitful for both parties. Hicks made some tweaks and hit .275 with seven home runs and 31 RBI over 65 games for Baltimore while also offering some leadership to the young club.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde said when Hicks returned to Yankee Stadium in Orioles orange last July. “I was hoping he could fill the void a little bit for us, play some outfield defense, give us a good at-bat. He’s always walked. We don’t have a ton of older veteran presences in our lineup. So I was hoping that he could come here and just kind of play easy and play like he has nothing to lose, and he did that.”
Hicks, who began his career with the Twins, joins an Angels outfield that also includes Mike Trout, Taylor Ward, Mickey Moniak and Jo Adell.
Hicks joins a list of former Yankees who have found news homes in recent days. Aroldis Chapman recently agreed to a deal with the Pirates, while Joey Gallo is heading to the Nationals. James Paxton also came to terms with the Dodgers.