Aaron Hicks

New York Yankees News/Rumors: Former Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel apologizes, and Brett Gardner and Aaron Hicks honored!

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New York Yankees, Aaron Hicks

A Daily look at a summary of News and Rumors of interest for New York Yankees fans!

Dallas Keuchel apologizes: Baseball fans from all over the country, particularly the New York Yankees and the Los Angels Dodgers, have been waiting for the Astros team and players to apologize for there part in the Astros sign-stealing scheme.  Back on January 13, the MLB and Commission Rob Manfred detailed the illegal electronic assisted cheating that went on during the Astros 2017 World Championship season.

Manfred issued punishments including the  5MM monetary fine, the suspension of the General Manager and Field Manager A.J. Hinch.  The suspensions were for one year, and the team would also lose their first and second draft picks for 2020 and 2021.  Since then, fans have been waiting for some penance.  Yesterday afternoon in an interview, Dallas Keuchel, who pitched for the Astros during that season, issued what some would consider an apology.  “It’s just what the state of baseball was at that point in time. Was it against the rules? Yes, it was. And I personally am sorry for what’s come about the whole situation,” Keuchel said. Keuchel, who now pitches for the White Sox.

Even though he is the first current or former Astros player to apologize, he spent as much time making excuses for it and blaming Mike Fiers for being a whistleblower.  “I can only speak for myself but just knowing some of those guys over there and knowing how they are as people, we’re all people to an extent, I mean, some guys are robots, I’ll tell you that,” Keuchel said. “But for most of us, the human element is real. And a lot of guys are not happy with the fact that Mike came out and said something or the fact that this even happened.”  “It sucks to the extent of that the clubhouse rule was broken,” he said. “I mean and that’s where I’ll go with that. I don’t have much else to say about Mike.”  To this writer, that sounds more like I’m sorry that we got caught rather than a real apology.

Following Manfred’s nine-page report and the issuing of punishments, both General Manager Luhnow and Field Manager Hinch were fired by Astros owner Jim Crane.  Last week at Astros fan fest, Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman spoke of the scheme but in no way apologized for their part in it.  Unless and even if the players apologize, this is going to be a rough season for the Astros as they visit baseball parks around the country.  The Astros and Yankees will not meet at Yankee Stadium until September, but you can be sure the Yankee faithful will give them an ear-full.

Brett Gardner and Aaron Hicks:   Yankee centerfielders Brett Gardner and Aaron Hicks were named in the top 10 of baseball centerfielders by the MLB Network.  This is not new news, but the list did not make much of a splash at the time as it was released at the same time as the Manfred report.  In the updated assessment by the Network Los Angeles Angel, Mike Trout was listed as the best centerfielder in baseball, followed by Dodger Cody Bellinger.

Aaron Hicks came in at number 8 and Brett Gardner as number 10. Brett Gardner has spent the majority of his career in centerfield at Yankee Stadium.  For the past few years, the position has belonged to Aaron Hicks; however, Gardner had to step in again for Hicks in the outfield during the 2019 season when Hicks was again injured.  Gardner, at the ripe old age of 36, still has excellent range and speed.  Also, in the 2019 season, he hit a career-high 28 home runs.

New York Yankees: Is Aaron Boone concerned over lack of lefty hitter in batting order?

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New York Yankees, Aaron Hicks

The Yankees have more positives than negatives to worry about in 2020. The departure of Dellin Betances poses a threat to the efficiency of the bullpen, but they did manage to have a fantastic 2019 season in his absence, which should alleviate any concern on that front.

The outfield is all but set in stone, with Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge returning with a full bill of health. Factor in Aaron Hicks’ injury and there could be some tumultuous times in center field unless Brett Gardner can replicate his productivity in the campaign ahead. Gardner posted career highs in both home runs (28) and RBIs (74). However, the fixing of the juiced baseballs from last season might see his slugging percentage take a dip back to normal levels. His influence is more significant in the leadership department and injury supplementation.

The Yankees could be facing one final challenge:

While a majority of the positional groupings have excellent depth and starting quality players, there’s one remaining concern that manager Aaron Boone has going into spring training — that’s the overwhelming amount of right-handed hitters in the batting order.

MLB’s Bryan Hoch responded to a question regarding the lack of lefty bats in the lineup, stating:

With Gregorius’ departure, the Yankees’ Opening Day lineup projects to be extremely right-handed beyond Gardner and perhaps Mike Tauchman. I asked Aaron Boone about that recently, and he seemed to indicate that they believe they will score plenty of runs even without perfect balance:

Boone stated:

 

“You always want to have balance, but you want to be as good a team as you can be, so you’re always trying to kind of improve where you can. Nothing turns out perfect. You’re not always going to have the perfect roster, but we feel like whichever way we go — and especially with Aaron Hicks out to start the first couple of months — there is certainly a chance that we could be very right-handed. But we also know there is a really good chance that we will be a really good offense.”

A rather vague answer from the Yankees’ shipmaster, but the reality is, it’s impossible to tell whether the team will falter because of this minor factor or blossom into an offensive juggernaut. With Mike Tauchman, Brett Gardner, Mike Ford, Aaron Hicks, and Tyler Wade being the capable lefty bats on the team, the lineup could have a challenging time against right-handed pitchers, but I don’t imagine it will be consistent. The lefty bats on the team are majority reserve players, which is the problematic factor.

 

What Are the Yankees Doing With Brett Gardner?

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New York Yankees, Brett Gardner

When the Yankees announced they were resigning Brett Gardner in December, it made all the sense in the world. The teams projected starting centerfielder, Aaron Hicks, had just recently undergone Tommy John surgery. He won’t be starting rehab until AT THE EARLIEST May or June.

So just why the hell are they waiting so long to make Gardner a member of the 40 man roster?! It’s already 2020 and the man you’re paying $10 million to doesn’t have a spot on the roster.

There’s One Really Simple Solution Here

As stated, Hicks is out and not expected to return until August at the earliest. Putting Hicks on the 60 days IL frees up the necessary roster spot for Brett Gardner. We’re about a month away from pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training, and the Yankees have yet to do this one, really simple. thing.

Why Wait?

If Gardner wasn’t factoring into your 2020 plans, why give him the contract you gave him? You’re worried about being over the third tier of the luxury tax? You’re paying a man $10 million right now against that $248 million, which would be $238 million if you didn’t offer him the contract. It’s something really easy to do and should have happened months ago when Hicks announced he was getting the surgery in the first place.

Seriously, Brian, Hal, what ARE you guys doing?!

What are the New York Yankees planning for Clint Frazier in 2020?

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New York Yankees, Clint Frazier

Building out the depth and foundational support is a priority after the signing of star pitcher Gerrit Coile for the New York Yankees. Ensuring the team can withstand another injury bug is essential for their prolonged success, and the outfield seems like the most probable unit to fall ill.

Last season, Giancarlo Stanton played in just 18 games, and Aaron Judge also missed significant time. Add in Aaron Hicks’ injuries and his recovery through Tommy John surgery, and the Yankees need supplemental players.

The Bombers have retained Brett Gardner on one-year, $12.5 million deal with a second-year option, and they have Mike Tauchman, Tyler Wade, and “Red Lightning,” Clint Frazier available in the outfield.

Frazier, who has been the constant focal point in numerous trade proposals, remains a Yankee, despite all of the revolving speculations. Currently, it seems as if the Yankees hold Frazier to a higher value than the rest of the MLB, which means they could keep him active for the 2020 season.

Considering the firepower the Bombers already have in the outfield, it would take multiple player injuries for him to get another crack at playing significant time. Last season, he did hit .267 with 12 homers and 38 RBIs, proving his offensive worth. He also finished with a 6.5 BB% and a 28.5 K% in 246 plate appearances. His 108 wRC+ landed him in the average category. His defense, though, has been disappointing, as he logged a .963 fielding percentage through 53 games.

For now, he will remain behind Judge, Stanton, Tauchman, and Gardner. However, with Hicks working his way back, Frazier will slot in fifth until his return.

Could New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman trade Clint Frazier?

The Yankees continue to dive into the trade market, with Brewers’ Josh Hader leading the rumors. If Cashman is to offer Frazier in a trade, he likely wouldn’t be the focal point of the tentative deal, but he would be an obvious choice to include. His offensive efficiency at the top level holds merit.

I do not believe Frazier will be traded this offseason, but if they can get him some essential reps in 2020, he could be a moveable piece at the trade deadline.

New York Yankees: Is Aaron Hicks the Future in Centerfield?

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New York Yankees, Aaron Hicks

Aaron Hicks, the centerfielder for the New York Yankees, will be out until the all-star break of next season. He signed a 7 year, $70 million contracts last offseason, which may have been a mistake by the Yankees front office.

In 2018, his last full season, Hicks batted .248, hit 27 home runs, and drove in 79 runs. His home run and RBI totals were both career highs (Baseball-Reference). He seems to be reaching his max potential at 30 years old. Hopefully, after he recovers from Tommy John surgery, he can stay healthy and play out his contract. The Yankees truly do not need a repeat of Jacoby Ellsbury, luckily Hicks is not worth as much as him.

The Yankees’ Options in Centerfield

The Yankees resigned Brett Gardner for one year, $12.5 million, and a $20 million option for the 2020 season. Gardner arguably had his best season last year and was runner-up for team most valuable player. He will be the Yankees starting centerfielder until Hicks comes back. However, Gardner is not a long term replacement and will most likely not perform at the level he did last season.

Estevan Florial, who is 22, is a possible piece in the Yankees future in centerfield. He is not ready for the majors yet, but he has the potential to hit .300 and steal 20 bases. He would be a valuable asset in the Yankees lineup that lacks speed and contact hitting.

Another possible option for the New York Yankees would be to trade Hicks once he gains value, especially if Florial excels in the minors and is ready for the big stage. The Yankees can look to get a young pitcher or solid defensive starting catcher for Hicks which would benefit both sides.

Ultimately, Hicks needs to play at a level to be the starting centerfielder for years to come, and it starts with staying healthy. In a full season, Hicks can hit 25 home runs and drive in 80 plus runs. His next full season, if he has one in the near future, will be his statement year.

A 10 Part Breakdown of the New York Yankees Depth: Center Field

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Do the New York Yankees need starting pitchers for 2020? They need upgrades and help, but they don’t NEED a starter. Do the Yankees need a starting shortstop? No, but it would be smarter to resign Didi Gregorius. Do the Yankees need a center fielder for 2020?

Short Answer: Yes

Aaron Hicks is going to perpetually be on the IL the remainder of his career. He averages between 80 and 90 games a season. And now, he’s basically lost for the season. It’ll be a miracle if he can actually come back and play any games before the end of 2020 considering how slow he was coming back from a back injury. It could be a situation like Zack Wheeler, who took 2 and a half years to recover from Tommy John surgery. So you need a center fielder for the entirety of 2020. Just to be safe.

Now, do the Yankees need to pay for a center fielder?

Short Answer: No. Long Answer: No, But They Should

Mike Tauchman is on the roster and has experience playing center field. He doesn’t have much though, only 22 games. For someone who’s only been in the majors since 2017, it’s not a bad idea to bring Brett Gardner back. It would be smarter to have Gardner and Tauchman platoon in center, providing defensive days off to Judge and Stanton from time to time. Gardner’s veteran presence is invaluable, and he more than justified a one year contract based on his performance last year. So, if Hicks can come back before the end of the year, you have Gardner as the 5th outfielder on the bench. 

And considering how much the Yankees are offering Gerrit Cole, signing Gardner isn’t going to set you back in relation to the luxury tax.

You need to better develop Tauchman as it will possibly take longer than anticipated for Estevan Florial to reach the big club. He has yet to play for the Staten Island Yankees. So for Tauchy to have Gardy’s help next season… it’s the only way you can go if you’re the New York Yankees.

New York Yankees: Could Estevan Florial finally make it to the big leagues in 2020?

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New York Yankees, Estevan Florial

Injuries have plagued the young career of New York Yankees prospect Estevan Florial. Thought to have a complete set of tools concerning hitting, base running, and defense, the outfielder has been featured at the top of the Bombers’ list of young stars for quite some time.

However, Florial has been held back by continuous freak injuries, including a broken wrist last spring after a strong start in spring-ball. Giving up on the international prospect would be ludicrous, considering the Yankees signed him back in 2015 for a mere $200K.

With his skill-set and overall potential, Florial still wows coaches and fans, and if it wasn’t for his wrist injury last season, he might have soared through the ranks and reached the big-leagues for the first time in his career. While his potential glistens like a diamond in the rough, the pressure and perfect sequence of events to create the diamond have been elusive.

Florial will have another opportunity this season to prove his worth and remain healthy. Otherwise, he could be on the trading block. The Yankees have dangled his name during the trade deadline on multiple occasions, just to keep him within the organization.

The New York Yankees have seen a glimpse of his potential:

Ever since the 2017 season, the Yankees have been looking for a consistent threat in the outfield. Aaron Judge has filled that role nicely, but injuries took their toll on the 2019 season. Giancarlo Stanton missed virtually all of 2019, and Aaron Hicks required Tommy John surgery after pushing through the postseason. The outfield is stocked full of talent, but having an elite center fielder would give them the final piece to the puzzle. Hicks is a solid switch-hitting player, which increases his value, but his inconsistencies have been troublesome.

Estevan, who in 2017 showed could be the next great outfielder for the Bombers, hit .298 with 13 homers, an OPS of .850, and stole 23 bases, portraying a wide array of ability that could translate to the next level. However, that was the best we had seen from Florial before injuries began to have their way with the young international.

There’s little to justify not giving Florial another chance next spring, and if he can remain healthy, 2020 could be the year he makes it to the MLB, which would make Clint Frazier more expendable.

New York Yankees: Why Aaron Hicks is the New Jacoby Ellsbury 

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New York Yankees, Aaron Hicks

I thought it was a bad signing when I heard it. And so far, little is happening to dissuade me. But the second Aaron Hicks signed his name on the dotted line, the New York Yankees front office should already be regretting giving Aaron Hicks a 7 year $70 million contracts.

He and Ellsbury Have the Same Bugaboo

Hicks can’t stay healthy. Ellsbury couldn’t stay healthy. Hicks has a harder time staying healthy than Ellsbury.

Ellsbury, in his 11-year career, has played 3/4 of the season (120 games or more) 6 out of 11 seasons. Aaron Hicks has done that approximately twice in his 7-year career. He averages playing a full half-season, leaving the team trying to figure out who to start the other 82 games in the year. This means that Jacoby Ellsbury was more dependable for his teams than Aaron Hicks.

Hicks has got a better arm than Ellsbury, has but what good does it do you when you miss half the year? He covers more ground and can save you more runs defensively than Ellsbury, but what good does it do you when you miss half the season? And for someone heralded for his “great eye and speed”, he has a lower career on-base percentage and stolen base rate than Ellsbury, which begs the question “Why was he an upgrade when he’s hurt more frequently than Ellsbury?”

Why His Contract is Already Blowing Up in the Yankees Face

He signed the contract in 2019 and almost immediately proceeds to get hurt. The recovery from the injury was prolonged in ways that no one could have anticipated. Then, after he comes back, he gets hurt, AGAIN! He plays less than 60 games last season, and really only gets playing time in October because of Stanton’s injury. Now, he, like Didi in 2019, will miss at least half the season with Tommy John surgery in his throwing elbow. You know, the elbow responsible for his cannon of an arm?

It’s not outside of the realm of possibility that Hicks will come back as fast as Didi, and it’s also not outside of the same realm it’ll take him longer than Didi. The projected recovery time from Tommy John surgery is 8 to 10 months for Hicks. So let’s say Hicks can be back in 6 months. He got the surgery in October. That puts him in rehab games by April, back to the club May/June. 8 months means he doesn’t start the rehab process till June, potentially giving him an arrival date of July/August. If it takes 10 months, that means he wouldn’t be able to play many, if any, rehab games as 10 months mean he starts rehabbing in August. If it becomes the 10-month option, the Yankees should just shut him down and see him in February 2021.

So that already 2 years, and $20 million dollars given to someone who might play 141 games over that span. Granted, it’s still better than Ellsbury not being able to play any games since the 2017 postseason, but Ellsbury at least averaged 120 games played in his 4 seasons of playing time with the team. Hicks could only do that once. And with Hal Steinbrenner’s penny pitching, that’s $70 million that should be going to the front line ace that we needed 3 seasons ago, but never wanted to spend the money because “Oh no! We gotta stay below the luxury tax!”

I’m telling you, if he doesn’t have a spectacular 2021-2023, where he remains healthy all season long, this will go down as an even more misguided contract than the one they gave Ellsbury.

Can the Yankees continue to rely on Aaron Hicks in center field?

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New York Yankees, Aaron Hicks

The Yankees are facing dire straights at the center field position with regular starter Aaron Hicks set to miss extended time, potentially reaching August in a worst-case scenario. The best case would be earlier July as a return date, but the Yankees will have to find ways to supplement his loss in the meantime.

The Yankees have a few ways to supplement the absence of Hicks:

Re-signing veteran Brett Gardner seems like the efficient method of approaching Hicks’ Tommy John surgery, but unloading another $7.5 million for one year isn’t the ideal allocation of funds. However, if general manager Brian Cashman can get his cap down to $4 million, bringing back Gardner should be a necessity.

Another option would be Mike Tauchman, who batted .277 last season while compensating for injuries in the outfield. He’s a far cheaper option, but he also doesn’t have the leadership attributes, and track-record Gardner has with the Bombers.

In an even more efficient scenario, the Yankees bring back both Gardner and Tauchman, as being cautious is an excellent idea considering the number of injuries that plagued the outfield in 2019. All three starters, Aaron Judge, Hicks, and Giancarlo Stanton all missed significant time.

The Yankees unloaded a seven-year, $70 million deal for Hicks last offseason, making him a consistent option for the future. Despite injuries derailing his 2019 season, he has the quality to be a great option offensively and defensively.

Last season, he hit .235, his worst since 2016, with 12 homers and 36 RBIs. While his numbers don’t scream production, he’s a gritty player that loves to play for the Bombers. His desire to play with a bum elbow during the postseason attests to that reality.

Even if the Yankees decided they wanted to take the position down a different path, Hicks is on the hook for six more seasons with no out in his contract. The Yankees could use him similarly to Gardner down the road as age takes its toll.

New York Yankees likely to bring back Brett Gardner for 2020 season

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New York Yankees, Brett Gardner

At 36-yeard-old, Brett Gardner’s 12 years with the New York Yankees has been filled with ups and downs, but the 2019 season spelled an early exit in the postseason at the hands of the Houston Astros. Gardner signed a one-year, $7.5 million contract before the 2019 season, and there are hopes that he will return next year.

Gardner had one of his best slugging seasons to date, logging 28 homers with a .251 batting average, essentially turning back the clock a few years after seeing his numbers plummeted in 2018. He has proven he still holds value as an offensive player, but he’s also a solid outfielder and leader in the clubhouse. He epitomizes the Yankees way.

Will the New York Yankees reunite with Brett Gardner once again?

The continued relationship between the two makes complete sense considering his success last year and familiarity with the organization. He’s loved by the fan-base and can fill multiple outfield roles as a utility option.

Last season, there were concerns that manager Aaron Boone wouldn’t use Gardner much as a featured player. He quickly flipped that chapter and earned significant playing time due to injuries, and he took full advantage. With Aaron Hicks, Giancarlo Stanton, and Aaron Judge missed big chunks of time last season, Gardner filled in valiantly.

Heyman commented on the potential for a new deal with the New York Yankees:

“I would think so, just because it’s Brett Gardner, and he’s been loyal forever,” said Heyman. “He had a great year. They want to bring him back. Last I heard, they weren’t close, they didn’t have anything really that was ready to go. But they did it quickly last year … I think they’ll figure it out.”

It makes sense for Gardner to start and finish his career with the Yankees. He still holds value and can act as either a starter or a reserve option. However, the Bombers would prefer to have a full outfield in Judge, Stanton, and Hicks.