Amid the recent injury to star outfielder Cedric Mullins, the Orioles have signed an established veteran to fill the gap during his absence.
Baltimore announced Tuesday that the organization signed Aaron Hicks to a major league contract following his departure from the Yankees. In a corresponding roster move, Mullins landed on the 10-day IL due to a right groin strain.
Hicks has spent the past eight seasons in New York, but his tenure as a Yankee came to an end on May 20, when he was designated for assignment. He cleared waivers a few days later, but now finds himself back in the AL East after latching on with the Orioles.
We have made the following roster moves: pic.twitter.com/UuBLPsceFI
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) May 30, 2023
After strong seasons in 2017 and ’18, Hicks signed a seven-year, $70 million extension with the Yankees in ’19. He played four seasons under his new deal, but failed to replicate the production he put up in years prior. He saw himself relegated to a bench role in 2023, having featured in just 28 games.
Since 2020, Hicks has slashed just .212/.331/.334 with 19 home runs, 80 RBI, and 197 strikeouts in 730 at-bats across 244 games.
