2015 GM Meetings Wrap Up: New York Yankees

Aaron Hicks Will Be Starting for the New Yankees on Opening Day, and for the foreseeable future.

Jul 12, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins center fielder

(32) hits a single scoring one run during the fourth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Target Field. The Twins won 7-1 over the Tigers. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports

The biggest move made by the Yankees this week was their trade with the Minnesota Twins that sent backup catcher John Ryan Murphy to the ‘Twin Cities’ in exchange for 25-year old center fielder Aaron Hicks.

Hicks is a switch-hitting outfielder who has been with the Twins since 2013. He was selected 14th overall in the 2008 MLB Draft out of Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, California. He made his MLB debut in 2013 and has played limited time over the course of the past three seasons in Minnesota, but this season he slashed .256/.323./.398 with 11 home runs, 33 RBI’s, and 13 steals in 16 attempts over the course of 97 games – the most he’s played in a single season. On the defensive side of the diamond, Hicks has the versatility to play all three outfield positions, and though many would argue that Hicks is the fourth Yankee outfielder and a cheaper replacement for veteran Chris Young, Brian Cashman would insist otherwise;

Unfortunately the Yankees had to part ways with home-grown 24-year old backstop John Ryan Murphy in order to acquire Hicks, but with Murphy being blocked by veteran Brian McCann tied in with the insane production of Gary Sanchez in the 2015 Arizona Fall League, Murphy was just that much more expendable.