NEWYORK –
Aaron Hicks’ eight-year tenure with the New York Yankees ended on Friday when the midfielder was released from his contract with more than two and a half seasons remaining.
Hick was assigned to duty last Saturday and the Yankees released him before the opening game against San Diego.
At the time Hicks was cut, he owed about $27.6 million: $7,620,968 for the remainder of this year’s $10.5 million salary plus $9.5 million in wages. for each of the next two seasons and a $1 million buyout of team options in 2026.
Any major league team can contract Hicks for a prorated share of the major league’s $720,000 minimum, which will be offset against the amount owed by the Yankees team.
“I hope what’s not lost is a couple of really good seasons he’s had here, had some good post-season moments here,” Yankees coach Aaron Boone said. “Several injuries have really affected his time here and have probably affected his career and his ability to return to form.”
Hicks, 33, is hitting 0.188 with a homer and five RBIs in 28 games this season.
He agreed to a seven-year, $70 million contract with New York in February 2019 but injured his right elbow on August 3, missing the remainder of the regular season and in five games after the season, going home in Game 5 of the AL Series Championship against Justin Verlander of Houston.
Hicks operated on Tommy John with Los Angeles Dodgers chief physician Dr. Neal El Attrache on October 30.
He returned the following July for a shortened pandemic season but never the same player. Hicks hit 0.212 with 19 home players and 80 RBI in 244 games after surgery, down from 0.236 with 82 home players and 276 RBI in 654 games before injury. His 2021 season was cut short on May 12 because of a tendon sheath tear in his left wrist and required season-ending surgery on May 26.
Hicks entered the pro league with Minnesota in 2013. He was transferred to New York in November 2015 and averaged 0.230 with 101 home players and 356 RBIs in 898 games in career.
New York recalls right-hander Randy Vasquez from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The 24-year-old right-hander was scheduled to start against the Padres on his major league debut.
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