3 Yankees stealing money from the team thanks to bad contracts

Oct 23, 2022; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson (28) reacts after striking out in the third inning against the Houston Astros during game four of the ALCS for the 2022 MLB Playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

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Oct 18, 2022; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Aaron Hicks (center) is helped off the field after colliding with shortstop Oswaldo Cabrera (not pictured) while trying to catch a ball hit by Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan (not pictured) for a single against the Cleveland Guardians during the third inning in game five of the ALDS for the 2022 MLB Playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Most Yankees fans have been wanting Aaron Hicks to get traded

Aaron Hicks is a player Yankees fans have been wanting to get DFA’d or traded for what feels like years now, and to be honest, I can’t really blame them. His production has fallen off a cliff.

Hicks had an .833 OPS and hit 27 home runs in 2018. After that, his production dipped and he struggled to stay on the field. A deadly duo. From 2019-2021, he played in just 145 games. Part of that is because of the shortened season (Hicks did play 54 of the 60 games the Yankees played) but he had just a .747 OPS in that span, almost 100 points lower than the 2018 season.

Last season Hicks was able to stay mostly healthy, playing in 130 games, but he slashed .216/.330/.313 with eight home runs and 40 RBI. He drew a ton of walks as he usually does, but lost all of his power. He was worth 1.5 fWAR, not exactly what the Yankees envisioned when they gave him a seven-year $70 million extension in 2019.

Hicks isn’t making Donaldson or Stanton money, and it’s not like $10.5 million is killing the Yankees, a team that prints money like it’s nothing, but he’s not exactly worth that.

There’s a very good chance Oswaldo Cabrera starts in left or they even use Stanton in the outfield, and Hicks is relegated to the bench. He’s making $10.5 million this season, $9.5 million in 2024 and 2025, and then has a $12.5 million club option in 2026. Not great for a player who might not even be a starter anymore.

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