The Baltimore Orioles signed former New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks to an MLB deal and placed outfielder Cedric Mullins on the injured list with a right groin strain, the team announced Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know:
- The Yankees designated Hicks, 33, for assignment earlier this month. He still had three years and nearly $30 million left on his contract in New York.
- Hicks slashed .188/.263/.261 over 76 plate appearances with New York this season.
- Mullins, 28, is hitting .263/.356/.479 with eight home runs for the 34-20 Orioles.
We have made the following roster moves: pic.twitter.com/UuBLPsceFI
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) May 30, 2023
What they are saying
“Hopefully it’s a good thing for him,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone told members of the media Tuesday. “A lot of time here (with New York). A lot of good things happened for him here. … Hopefully it’s a good opportunity for him and certainly wish him well. Not too well being that’s a team in our division and a team we’re chasing but hopefully it’s a really good fit for him.”
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The Athletic’s instant analysis:
What Mullins’ injury means for Baltimore
Mullins is arguably the most difficult player on the roster to replace with the exception of maybe Adley Rutschman. Mullins is a tablesetter on offense, a disrupter on the basepaths and an absolute force defensively. Losing him for any time hurts the Orioles in all aspects. Austin Hays can play center, but that opens the expansive left field for someone else. Ryan McKenna can play center, but he tends to get exposed in every day roles. And two possibilities in the minors, Colton Cowser and Kyle Stowers, are on the IL at Norfolk.
Hicks should help defensively to cover ground in roomy center and left. But this team also needs some offensive help after a recent rough patch and it would be a stretch to think Hicks can help with that. — Connolly
What happened with Hicks in New York?
At one point, Hicks was one of the best centerfielders in the American League. That led to him getting a seven-year, $70 million contract after hitting 27 home runs in 2018. Since then, things have unraveled for Hicks mainly because of injuries. Tommy John surgery and a torn tendon sheath zapped Hicks of nearly all of his offensive production the past two years.
He became a bench player this season and couldn’t thrive in the role. Hicks became unplayable and a constant target for Yankees fans’ vitriol. It was an unfortunate ending for Hicks who did have some big moments for the Yankees over the years but could not bounce back to the player he was before signing his long-term extension. — Kirschner
Required reading
- Kirschner: Yankees’ breakup with Aaron Hicks felt inevitable and necessary
- Yankees takeaways: Aaron Boone’s reasoning for not using Aaron Hicks speaks volumes
- Yankees’ Aaron Hicks on not starting: ‘I have no idea what my role is’
(Photo: Brad Penner / USA Today)