Yankees: 3 players we need to drop like a bad habit

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 06: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees reacts after striking out against the Tampa Bay Rays during the sixth inning in Game Two of the American League Division Series at PETCO Park on October 06, 2020 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

2. Aaron Hicks

Unlike Sanchez, Hicks was a marginally effective player for the Yankees in 2020. His slash line of .225/.379/.414 was nothing to write home about, but it did allow him to carve out a WAR of 0.5 on the truncated season.

It’s possible Hicks’ production will increase in 2021 as he gets one year farther removed from Tommy John surgery. That doesn’t mean he will become anything approximating an All-Star outfielder as he enters his age-31 season. The odds favor Hicks’ performance continuing to decline with the bat and in the field.

The fact that Hicks still has five years left on the reasonable seven-year, $70 million deal he signed with the Yankees before the 2019 season. That doesn’t make his contract a massive value, but it does make him an appealing acquisition for a team looking to lock in a starting outfielder with cost control for multiple seasons.

The challenge for the Yankees would be replacing Hicks immediately in center field. Estevan Florial was a highly-touted prospect, but his star with the organization has dimmed considerably in the last 12 months. Dealing Hicks might force New York to spend big in free agency to fill the void. That’s the only way the Yankees can acquire a true star to patrol center field.

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