Veteran switch-heater outfielder Aaron Hicks (34) has found a new contract.
Local media, including “ESPN,” quoted sources on the 30th (Korea Standard Time) that Hicks agreed to a contract with the Los Angeles Angels.
The contract is worth 740,000 dollars, the lowest annual salary in the Major League. 마카오토토
He goes to a new team for such a small amount of money because he has an existing contract left.
Earlier, he had agreed to a seven-year, 70 million-dollar contract with the New York Yankees until 2025. He was released by the Yankees during the last season, but the contract is still in effect.
It is scheduled to receive $9.5 million each in 2024 and 2025, and even a $1 million buyout amount is scheduled.
Among them, the Yankees still pay about $19 million, excluding the minimum salary level that the Angels will pay.
The Yankees released Hicks last year despite such financial burden. His performance was so disastrous. He only posted a batting average of 0.188, an on-base percentage, and a slugging percentage of 0.261 in 28 games.
Since then, he has signed a contract with the Baltimore Orioles, the same team in his team. He has posted a batting average of 0.275 with an on-base percentage of 0.381, a slugging percentage of 0.425 with seven homers and 31 RBIs in 65 games.
Previously, he was a better player. From 2017 to 2020, he recorded 60 home runs and 8.7 bWAR with an OPS of 0.819 in 338 games.
Being able to play center field as a switch heater is a big advantage. The Angels recruited proven center fielder at a time when the health of Mike Trout, the main center fielder, could not be guaranteed.
In a related development, Angels manager Perry Minasian said in an interview with local media including AP, “Trout is our center fielder. He is a player who can help the team in many different ways. He will add to his presence as a veteran,” stressing that Hicks’ recruitment does not mean that he will move to Trout’s position.
ESPN said the Angels’ recruitment left room for another outfielder to be used as a trade card.