Fansided

5 Yankees who won’t meet expectations in 2019

By Rucker Haringey

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 08: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees strikes out to end the eighth inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game Three of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 8, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Red Sox defeated the Yankees 16-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 08: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees strikes out to end the eighth inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game Three of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 8, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Red Sox defeated the Yankees 16-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 22: Aaron Hicks #31 of the New York Yankees looks on during the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, September 22, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 22: Aaron Hicks #31 of the New York Yankees looks on during the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, September 22, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

4. Aaron Hicks

Hicks isn’t one of the first guys to show up on opposing scouting reports, but he had a really good season for the Yankees in 2018. A WAR of 4.7 is an excellent number for a player with a batting average of just .248. Hicks used his defense and ability to get on base at an outstanding clip to really help his team.

It’s difficult to envision him posting an OBP of .366 again next year if he doesn’t swing the bat more effectively. Hicks showed plenty of pop last season, but he didn’t produce a ton of hard contact. He’s unlikely to suddenly elevate that part of game at the age of 29.

It’s also very possible his range in the outfield will start to decline pretty soon. It could hold up for a few more seasons, but there’s no guarantee. If Hicks stops being a plus defender in center, he’ll start to lose value at a pretty rapid clip.

Again, it’s important to note that we aren’t expecting Hicks to fall off a cliff this season. We do think some moderate regression to the mean is likely though. He could easily post a WAR more like 2.0 next season. Many fans are expecting to see Hicks have a career year, we think it’s much more likely he starts to lose his grip on the starting spot in center field.

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