Aaron Hicks' surprise extension gives insight into Yankees mindset

Though the Yankees still have younger players like 24-year-old Clint Frazier, who isn't eligible for arbitration until 2021, and 21-year-old prospect Estevan Florial, who hasn't played above the High-A level, Hicks' contract means the Yankees will have an outfield of him, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton for the foreseeable future. According to multiple reports, the Yankees and center fielder Aaron Hicks have agreed to a seven-year, $70M extension with a club option for an eighth year.

Hicks was on track for a breakout season in 2017, with 15 home runs and 52 RBI (.847 OPS), but oblique issues limited him to just 88 games. The new contract replaces that agreement. He'll make $10.5 million each year from 2020 to 2023.

The New York Yankees have been more responsible with free agent spending in recent years, and this offseason was no different as they were only peripherally involved on Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. "He was hungry to prove otherwise and we were hungry to work with him on it".

"I thought it was a fair deal for both sides", Hicks said, according to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch.

"For me, it was to be able to be a Yankee, this is where I want to be".

Hicks would get a $1 million assignment bonus the first time he is traded. He immediately brought top-notch defense to the team and has improved as a hitter since arriving in the Big Apple.

Hicks, 29, has quietly emerged as one of the game's more underrated players over the past couple of seasons. Prior to that pair, the last position player in this service class to ink an extension of five or more years was Andre Ethier back in 2012.

"There was a lot of people questioning if he'd ever cross into being the player that his draft card said he was capable of being", Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said.