Yankees: Aaron Hicks and Tommy Kahnle avoid arbitration

In a sign of positive things to come, both centerfielder Aaron Hicks and relief pitcher Tommy Kahnle agreed to one-year deals with the Yankees, avoiding arbitration.

It’s always good for team morale when players are willing to negotiate a contract before heading to arbitration. Because as we saw last offseason with Dellin Betances and Yankees president Randy Levine, disagreements about money often lead to contentious relationships.

On Thursday evening, the Yankees signed one-year pacts with Tommy Kahnle for $1,312,500, followed by Aaron Hicks at $2,825,000.

This is the first year of arbitration eligibility for Kahnle — as he won’t hit free agency until 2021. Even still, Kahnle sees a nice raise from the $547,000 he made in 2017.

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Kahnle’s acquisition from the White Sox last July was close to priceless as possible, as the 28-year-old right-hander was able to pick up the slack for a sluggish Betances. In 32 regular season appearances with the Yanks, Kahnle held a 12.2 SO/9, on his way to 10 scoreless innings and one stellar save to begin the Postseason.

Though he did come unraveled in Game 7 of the ALCS versus the Astros — allowing three runs in 1.1 innings pitched, Kahnle is a reliable bullpen option that is capable of pitching in a variety of situations and innings.

As for Hicks, who has all but solidified his role as the Yankees’ starting centerfielder, six weeks before Spring Training, he gets an increase from the $1.35 million he earned last season.

Playing in just 88 games due to two separate stints on the disabled list because of nagging oblique injuries, Hicks gave us a glimpse of what excited the organization so much upon his arrival from the Twins back in 2016.

Over the course of 301 at-bats, Hicks, 28, hit .266 with 15 home runs and 52 RBI. A stellar defender, Hicks, finished second in the American League in Total Zone Runs for a Centerfielder with 13.

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What remains for the Yankees are six players who have until Friday to come to an agreement before sitting down for arbitration. According to MLBTradeRumors.com:

• Adam Warren: $3.1MM
• Didi Gregorius: $9.0MM
• Dellin Betances: $4.4MM
• Sonny Gray: $6.6MM
• Austin Romine: $1.2MM
• Chasen Shreve: $900K