The New York Yankees have a center field problem.
Aaron Hicks isn’t that good. He’s an overpaid player who was once seen as a possible Bernie Williams, but he’s definitely not that guy.
And here’s the bigger problem; he can’t ever stay healthy. Ever.
The 32-year-old came off of playing in winter ball after missing most of the 2021 season with a wrist injury that required surgery.
So how did Hicks do against his competitors in the Winter League? Eh.
Granted, Hicks hadn’t taken a swing in probably seven to eight months, but all he could muster up was .265? Hicks wasn’t exactly facing Gerrit Cole or Max Scherzer down there.
Yet, .265 is all Hicks could muster up. He is after all, a career .233 hitter, so maybe we were all expecting too much from him.
If Brian Cashman has any chance to make a trade once the lockout ends and move the remaining 4 years and $40.5 million owed to Hicks, they should pounce.
Someone might want Hicks, and after all, he is a decent fielder with a superior arm. But as a hitter, he’s not that good. The Yankees already have a player who can field and needs to improve at the plate in Joey Gallo.
Hicks needs to get moved once the lockout is over.