DFA Aaron Hicks: Yankees name veteran player for assignment after eight years in New York

The New York Yankees have named veteran outfielder Aaron Hicks for assignment ahead of their game Saturday against the Cincinnati Reds. The move made a place for Greg Allen, who was purchased from the Boston Red Sox on Friday night in exchange for right-hander Diego Hernandez and financial considerations.

Hicks, 33, has hit .188/.263/.261 (47 OPS+) in 76 plate appearances this season. CBS Sports recently highlighted why he must be on the chopping block despite having over $25 million left on his contract.:

Hicks and the Yankees had been heading toward divorce since late last season, when he publicly expressed frustration with his role despite his poor performance. Certainly now the Yankees must disenchant himself that he can still contribute. Hicks hasn’t come close to a mid-league offense since 2020. He opened the season with a 3-for-40 showing against a right-handed pitcher. Prior to Sunday, it had not recorded an additional attack on the base since last September. There are no fundamental indicators that indicate a possible turnaround. Yankees Stadium isn’t completely healthy, but that doesn’t matter. You don’t have to understand or agree with the concept of substitution level to agree to this much: There are dozens of minor league players who, given the chance, could provide the Yankees with more than Hicks has yet. Just eat the money already.

Allen, 30, will start his second stint with the Yankees organization. He previously spent the 2021 season in pinstripes, appearing in 15 games and posting a 136 OPS+. Allen played in 282 big league games overall, compiling a slated streak of .232/.299/.336 (71 OPS+) with 10 home runs and 45 stolen bases. He’s spent the season at Triple-A, hitting a . 795 OPS with 23 stolen bases (on 23 attempts).

It should be noted that Hicks’ subtraction has provided other outfielders with poor numbers this season, in Willie Calhoun and Jake Powers. Both of them have so far outplayed Hicks and had no options in the Little League. As such, they would have been subject to the forfeit wire if the Yankees had made this decision based solely on money owed.

Hernandez, 18, appeared in 12 games last season for the Yankees in the Dominican Summer League. He posted a 2.10 ERA and a 3.43 strikeout-to-walk ratio in those contests. He is not rated by Baseball America as a top 30 prospect in the system.

The Yankees and Red Sox rarely trade with each other. This is the first trade since the Red Sox acquired Adam Ottavino in January 2021. The trade was the first since 2014 (Stephen Drew for Kelly Johnson, and that The first since 1997, when the Yankees sent Tony Armas and Jim Messier to Boston for Mike Stanley and Randy Brown.