Yankees and Aaron Hicks have had talks about a contract extension

The Yankees may not have started discussions with Aaron Judge about a possible contract extension yet but they have with center fielder Aaron Hicks. Hicks is set to become a free agent after the season so there’s a slight sense of urgency for the front office to try and lock him up before he can reach the open market.

Hicks enters 2019 coming off a career year a season ago where he established himself as one of the best center fielders in the game. He’s sure to earn a big pay raise if he becomes a free agent, so if the Yankees want to sign him to an extension they’re going to have to offer him a deal that would be tough to turn down.

It’s an interesting decision the Yankees will have to make because Hicks isn’t the only key contributor who can enter free agency this offseason. Didi Gregorius and Dellin Betances are also in the final years of their contract and I assume management is going to do everything in their power to hold on to them.

It’s going to tough to bring back all three but the Yankees certainly have the money to do so if Hal Steinbrenner is willing to open up his checkbook. However, Hal and company also have to think about the future and guys like Judge, Sanchez, Andujar, and Torres who they’ll have to start paying a lot more once they become arbitration eligible.

They already signed ace Luis Severino to a four-year, $40 extension that projects to be a very team-friendly deal, but all the pending free agents mentioned above might not come so cheap. Next winter marks the first time Hicks, Didi and Betances can become free agents and by that time they’ll all be at least 30 years old so you know they’re going to want to cash in.

As much as I’d love to keep Hicks for the coming years if I had to choose which player to keep between him and Didi I’d go with Didi every day of the week. Part of the reason is Didi is the better all-around player and the fact that the Yanks could have their future center-fielder waiting in the wings in top prospect Estevan Florial. The 21-year-old has yet to play at Double-A but by 2020 he could be ready to take over. He’d also cost a lot less than Hicks.

More from Yanks Go Yard

• Should Yankees toss short-term extension at Harrison Bader before 2023?
• Yankees chose worst possible player to ring in New Year on 2023 team calendar
• Yankees State of the Farm System Review: Josh Breaux
• Yankees make upside play, sign former Rangers top prospect outfielder
• MLB insider claims favorite emerging in Bryan Reynolds rumors (not Yankees)

When talking to reporters on Friday Hicks said he’d love to stay in New York and confirmed that discussions between him and the Yankees have begun. According to Randy Miller of NJ.com, he wouldn’t say what kind of payday he’s looking for but he did reveal the four-year, $55M deal CF A.J Pollock recently signed with the Dodgers is a good starting point.

I was somewhat surprised to read that because I think Hicks will be worth more than what Pollock got because he’s younger, he’s just entering his prime and he doesn’t have his injury history. And if Hicks can follow up last season with another career year in 2019 I don’t think he’d be crazy to ask for a contract similar to the 5-year, $80M deal Lorenzo Cain signed with the Brewers last offseason.

Even though Hicks confirmed talks have taken place, he said his focus right now is on the upcoming season and helping the Yankees win #28. That’s no surprise because he’s a team player but with an entire season ahead of him to play out I don’t think this is the last time we’ll hear the topic of an extension get brought up.