Aaron Hicks released by New York Yankees with more than two years remaining on his contract – and outfielder owes $27.6 million after joining in 2019
- Aaron Hicks left the Yankees on Friday and is free to join a new team
- Yankees manager Aaron Boone says Hicks had ‘a couple of really good seasons’
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Aaron Hicks’ eight-year tenure with the New York Yankees ended Friday when the outfielder was released from a contract that had more than two seasons left in him.
Hick was slated for assignment last Saturday, and the Yankees released him before an opener 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 salaries of $9.5 million for each of the next two seasons and a $1 million buyout of a 2026 team option.
Any big league team can sign Hicks for a pro-rated share of the major league minimum of $720,000, which would be offset by what the Yankees owe.
“Hopefully what won’t be lost is a couple of really good seasons he’s had here, had some great playoff times here,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Certain injuries really impacted his time here and probably impacted his career and his ability to come back to this level,”
Aaron Hicks’ eight-year tenure with the New York Yankees ended with his release on Friday
Hicks agreed to a seven-year, $70 million deal with New York in February 2019
Hicks, 33, was batting .188 with one home run 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, missed the remainder of the regular season and for five postseason games, homer in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series against Houston’s Justin Verlander.
Hicks had Tommy John surgery with Los Angeles Dodgers team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Oct. 30.
He returned the following July for the pandemic-shortened season but was never the same player. Hicks hit .212 with 19 home runs and 80 RBI in 244 games after surgery, compared to .236 with 82 home runs and 276 RBI in 654 games before the injury. His 2021 season was cut short on May 12 due to a torn tendon sheath in his left wrist that required season-ending surgery on May 26.
Hicks broke into the majors with Minnesota in 2013. He was traded to New York in November 2015 and is .230 with 101 home runs and 356 RBIs in 898 career games.
New York recalled right-hander Randy Vásquez from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The 24-year-old right-hander was scheduled to start against the Padres in his major league debut.
