The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Hicks to have Tommy John surgery
NEW YORK — The New York Yankees hardly finished the 2019 season before starting on their injured list for 2020.
Center fielder Aaron Hicks will have Tommy John surgery for a partially torn ligament in his throwing elbow and is expected to be out 8 to 10 months.
General manager Brian Cashman announced Thursday that Hicks would have the operation Oct. 30.
Cashman also announced that righthander Masahiro Tanaka had arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow to remove bone spurs Wednesday, and Luke Voit had surgery for bilateral core muscle in
juries Thursday. Both players are expected to be ready for spring training.
Hicks injured his right elbow Aug. 3. He initially rested and rehabbed with hopes of returning late in the season, but eventually he was sent home to Phoenix with instructions to rest until doctors could evaluate him in the offseason. While playing around in the backyard, Hicks experimented tossing a ball, found the pain had subsided and pushed New York to let him return in the postseason.
He rejoined the team in the AL Championship Series against Houston and hit a home run in Game 5. After New York lost to the Astros in six games, the Yankees and Hicks agreed he should have the surgery
this offseason rather than continue pushing the partially torn UCL.
“He played great in the postseason for us obviously,” Cashman said. “But once it ended, the feeling of, there’s something here that’s still not right, the followup doctor exam was, again, led to the ultimate decision we have to get this thing fixed or it’s just going to blow.”
After signing a $70 million, sevenyear contract in the spring, Hicks injured his back early in spring training and didn’t play his first game until May 15. The 30yearold switchhitter batted .235 with 12 homers, 36 RBIs and a .769 OPS in 59 games.
New York placed a record 30 players on the injured list in 2019. The club won 103 regularseason games and earned the AL East title.
With Hicks set to miss much of the 2020 season, New York has more motivation to bring back veteran Brett Gardner. The 36yearold Gardner hit a careerhigh 28 home runs and played solid defense in center with Hicks sidelined.
A careerlong Yankee, Gardner is a potential free agent for the second consecutive offseason. He returned to New York last year on a $7.5 million, oneyear contract.
Cashman wouldn’t commit to resigning Gardner but praised his recent performance.
“I don’t think there’s any question about what his capabilities are,” Cashman said. “He had a tremendous season, both sides of the ball.”
PITCH TRACKING
Cashman doesn’t believe an ace pitcher would have been the difference for New York this postseason. He’d still love to acquire one, though.
He insists he’s been trying.
Two of the aces pitching in this year’s World Series could be available to the Yankees as free agents. Houston’s Gerrit Cole is set to hit free agency and could earn a record contract for a starting pitcher, surpassing the $217 million, sevenyear deal David Price signed with Boston before the 2016 season.
Washington’s Stephen Strasburg might also be in play if he opts out of the remaining four seasons and $100 million left in his $175 million, sevenyear deal.
“We’re always aggressive on trying to attack areas that need improvement,” Cashman said. “It just comes down to what’s available.”