By WFAN.com
The Yankees have committed to Aaron Hicks being a part of their outfield for years to come.
The Bronx Bombers signed the 29-year-old switch-hitting center fielder to a seven-year, $70 million contract extension on Monday.
Just bumped into Aaron Hicks outside the clubhouse. He's smiling widely and accepting congrats from several people.
— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) February 25, 2019Hicks was set to play this season on a one-year, $6 million deal. The new contract replaces that agreement. According to WFAN baseball insider Jon Heyman, Hicks will earn a $6 million base salary this season plus a $2 million signing bonus. He'll make $10.5 million each year from 2020 to 2023. He'll then earn $9.5 million each in the 2024 and 2025 seasons. There's a $12.5 million club option for 2026 with a $1 million buyout.
On Monday, Hicks joined Mike Francesa on WFAN to talk about his new deal.
"This is something we've been working on for a while," said Hicks. "Just trying to find a great deal for both sides."
Francesa asked Hicks what the most important part of the deal to him was, and Hicks reaffirmed that the biggest factor was his desire to stay in New York.
"For me, it was to be able to be a Yankee, this is where I want to be."
According to the New York Post's Joel Sherman, the deal does not include a no-trade clause, but Hicks would receive a $1 million assignment bonus if traded.
The Yankees acquired Hicks in a November 2015 trade with the Minnesota Twins. He immediately brought top-notch defense to the team and has improved as a hitter since arriving in the Big Apple. Last season, Hicks batted .248, had a .366 on-base percentage and posted career highs in homers (27) and RBIs (79).
Manager Aaron Boone said he likes the Hicks extension because it gives "our club that cost certainity knowing that we've got a premium player that in a lot of ways grew up and developed here."
"He's just a really elite-level player, and I think the next step for him is ... being able to get him to go out there 140, 150 times, whatever it may be, and we're looking at an elite-level center fielder, which is obviously such an important position," said Boone, referring to the injury history of Hicks, who has never played more than 137 games in a season.
"I'm glad this is behind him now, and I think he's really hungry to go out and show that not only he's the player he's shown us the last couple years but maybe there's even more in there," the manager added.
Hicks is the second player general manager Brian Cashman has locked up to a multiyear contract in spring training. On Feb. 15, the Yankees signed ace pitcher Luis Severino to a four-year, $40 million contract.
And Cashman doesn't appear to be done. According to Heyman, the Yankees are working toward extending reliever Dellin Betances.
