On Tuesday afternoon, Baltimore Orioles fans had some interesting news to discuss.
The team completed the signing of former New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks.
The Baltimore Orioles announced that they have signed Aaron Hicks to a major league contract pic.twitter.com/VZXJRecrKW
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 30, 2023
Hicks, as you probably remember, was designated for assignment on May 20 and released last Friday.
He was available on the cheap, since the Yanks are on the hook for the remaining two-and-a-half years of his contract.
With Cedric Mullins about to hit the injured list, he makes sense for Baltimore.
What do fans say?
what made them think that this was a good signing
— Lars Nootbaar (@Larsnootbaarstl) May 30, 2023
WHY DID WE GET AARON HICKS
— EROB (@evanroberts715) May 30, 2023
Aaron Hicks? Really? I have backed this rebuild with very few issues. This is an issue. @Orioles #Birdland
— kevin shea (blue check mark) (@kevinmshea58) May 30, 2023
It’s fair to say initial reactions to the move haven’t been positive by the Orioles fanbase.
They see a .524 OPS in a 33-year-old player and see “risk” all over it.
Hicks’ last good season was in 2020, when he had a .793 OPS.
Ever since that year, he has struggled with injuries and underperformance.
He has been declining steadily.
However, he was starting to get on a hot streak when the Yankees, in need of his roster spot, removed him from the roster.
Some Orioles fans, however, have hope with Hicks.
aaron hicks helping the orioles hold off the yankees would be good, aaron hicks is so easy to root for and guess what i'm rooting for him
— celebrity umpire (@imtextingmywife) May 30, 2023
So? He’s an elite defender, and a great team guy…. Everyone wants a guy like Aaron Hicks in the locker room!
— Adam Winstan (@AdamWinstan) May 30, 2023
While many fans probably don’t like the idea of Hicks getting at-bats for them, the truth is that there is zero risk in a potential move for him.
It was a cheap one-year MLB deal with a little over the minimum; nothing that really affects Baltimore’s finances.
And if he doesn’t pan out, it’s much easier to move on from a cheap player.
He has been good in the past, both as a hitter and a fielder (and a runner, too), and was starting to heat up in the days prior to his release.
Perhaps the Orioles can make it work.
NEXT: Orioles Reportedly Pursuing A Yankees Castoff
