ANAHEIM — The Angels and outfielder Aaron Hicks have agreed to a one-year, $740,000 contract.
The Angels announced the deal with the former Long Beach Wilson High standout on Monday.
Hicks’ salary is the major league minimum and will be offset against the $9.5 million he was guaranteed by the New York Yankees, who released him from a $70 million, seven-year contract that also assured a $9.5 million salary in 2025 plus a $1 million buyout of a 2026 club option.
Hicks, 34, was released by the Yankees after slashing just .188/.263/.261 through the first two months of the 2023 season but he improved to .275/.381/.425 in 65 games for the Baltimore Orioles. He batted .253 with eight homers and 36 RBIs for the season. Hicks’ best stretch came from 2017 to 2020, when he had an .819 OPS while hitting 60 home runs in 338 games.
Hicks joins an outfield group that includes three-time American League MVP Mike Trout, Taylor Ward and Mickey Moniak plus Jo Adell. Trout and Ward missed significant parts of last season due to injuries.
The switch-hitter has played mostly center field throughout his career, but he also has plenty of experience at both corner outfield spots. His addition could allow the Angels to use one of their other outfielders to acquire a starting pitcher or an impact hitter via trade, but he also serves as depth behind the potential for injuries and the development of Adell, who is out of minor league options and can’t be sent down without being exposed to waivers.
“With the injuries we’ve had in the outfield in the last few years, you want guys that can do a lot of things, and Aaron is one of those guys,” Angels general manager Perry Minasian said on a video conference call with reporters. “I wouldn’t rule anything out. They’re gonna have opportunities to play, and obviously spring training is gonna be important. As currently constructed we still have room for everyone.”
“If anyone has watched us over the last few years, things change by the day. So for us, it’s to acquire as many quality players as we can to get as many different options as you can. Things have a funny way of sorting themselves out over the course of spring.”
Hicks’ presence does not mean Trout, 32, is moving out of center field.
“Mike’s our center fielder,” Minasian said. “We’ve learned this over the last couple of years, at least since I’ve been here – you need players that can play multiple positions. You don’t know what’s gonna happen. He’s somebody that’s played center. He played center last year for Baltimore in certain instances, obviously a very good team that made the playoffs. He can play right, he can play left, he can really throw, so he’s somebody that can help us in a lot of different ways.”
Hicks is a career .233/.332/.387 hitter with 108 home runs, 120 doubles, 71 stolen bases and 387 RBIs in 963 games with the Twins (2013-15), Yankees (2016-2023) and Orioles (’23). His numbers are better against lefties (.758 career OPS) and a .702 career OPS against right-handers. Last year, his splits were extreme – a .970 OPS against lefties and .663 against righties.
“It was something we really looked at,” Minasian said. “There’s certain times where [Manager Ron] Washington will play matchups.”
Hicks has had frequent injury issues and has only played in at least 130 games once in the last five seasons.
“He played really well for Baltimore after making the change from New York, and we saw a rejuvenated guy that can still really play,” Minasian said. “He can be productive. As far as somebody who really fit what we were looking for, he stood out.”
Hicks grew up in San Pedro and Long Beach before the Minnesota Twins selected him 14th overall in the 2008 draft.
