Unpopular ex-Yankees player lands deal with Angels

After already rostering Gio Urshela last season, the Los Angeles Angels are trying their luck with another former New York Yankee.

Jeff Fletcher of the OC Register reported Monday that the Angels are signing ex-Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks to a free-agent deal. It is a major league deal for Hicks, so he will be added to the 40-man roster, Fletcher says.

Hicks, 34, had spent the last eight seasons with the New York Yankees but was designated for assignment mid-year in May and spent the rest of 2023 with the Baltimore Orioles. He is still being paid by the Yankees through the 2025 season though (after signing a seven-year, $70 million deal before the 2019 campaign).

It was a rough end to Hicks’ time in New York as he grew very unpopular with the fans due to his subpar hitting (posting a rotten .215 batting average over his final three seasons as a Yankee) and his bad blunders in the field. But Hicks did show a glimmer of hope with the Orioles, batting .275 in 65 games and seeing regular time in the field for Baltimore’s 101-win team. 

Now the Angels will take Hicks, who has experience at all three outfield positions, for a spin in the hopes that he can provide meaningful depth behind Mike Trout, Mickey Moniak and Taylor Ward.