CINCINNATI — As the visiting clubhouse at Great American Ball Park opened to reporters on Saturday afternoon, two packed bags sat at the foot of Aaron Hicks’ locker.
The writing had been on the wall for some time that Hicks would likely not finish out the three years and nearly $30 million he had left on his contract with the Yankees, but now it was official.
The Yankees designated Hicks for assignment Saturday, eating the money and giving up on the veteran outfielder, who had been their longest-tenured position player, before their 48th game of the season.
“It is what it is,” Hicks, with his eyes wet, told The Post, sounding equal parts crushed and stunned, after getting hugs from teammates. “It’s part of the business side of it. Just got to move on to the next chapter.
“This is a very good baseball team. It kind of seems like it wasn’t working out for me. Obviously with the decision that they decided to make, maybe somewhere else might be a little bit better.”
The Yankees pulled the plug on Hicks, who had struggled since the 2021 season, to make room on the active roster for outfielder Greg Allen, whom they acquired from the Red Sox on Friday night.
Hicks had publicly voiced frustration with his role dating back to late last season, when he went from everyday player to part-time outfielder because of his lack of production. The Yankees believe that Allen is better suited to perform in that role off the bench, having done it for most of his career.
“Look, I think it was a difficult role for [Hicks], to get there and to accept and to thrive in,” manager Aaron Boone said before the Yankees’ 7-4, 10-inning win over the Reds. “That played a factor, probably.”
Boone said Hicks had expressed that frustration to him “in different ways, probably, over the last months and year.”
“But at the same time, it was professional, too,” Boone said.
That made their conversation a “somber” one on Saturday, when Boone delivered the news to Hicks that he was being let go.
“He and I in the room with the door closed, it was eerie,” Boone said. “That kind of deafening silence. I think it has to do with a guy that’s been here and done a lot here.”
The Yankees have seven days to trade or place Hicks on irrevocable outright waivers. That period is expected to end with him being released instead of another team taking on his contract.
The 33-year-old Hicks had been with the Yankees since he came over in a trade with the Twins prior to the 2016 season. He had above-average offensive seasons in 2017 and 2018 before he signed an ill-fated seven-year, $70 million extension ahead of the 2019 season.
Shortly after that, his production began to fall off, with injuries not helping.
Hicks underwent Tommy John surgery in October 2019, then had surgery for a torn tendon sheath in his left wrist in May 2021, which cost him the rest of that season.
Over his final three seasons with the Yankees, Hicks hit .209 with a .625 OPS in 190 games. His defense also fell off, which coincided with his move from center field to left field.
“It’s tough to say [if] those injuries and age all factor into making you just a tick less,” Boone said. “I think at times, he had a hard time making some adjustments. It’s still a very talented guy. Maybe it’s something where the change of scenery may be something that serves him well.”
Since late last season, Hicks had also become a target of fans’ ire at Yankee Stadium, with his at-bats often being followed by a round of boos that only got louder as his slumps got deeper.
That carried over into this year, when Hicks hit .188 with a .524 OPS across 28 games. The switch hitter had started to show signs of life over the past week and a half, batting .353 (6-for-17) with a 1.097 OPS, but it was not enough to save his Yankees tenure.
“Very tough,” Aaron Judge said. “He’s meant a lot to this team and organization. … I’m just really wishing him the best. It was tough to hear that news today. But I’m excited for him to get a fresh start somewhere and continue his career.”
