TAMPA — The Yankees are hopeful Aaron Hicks is ready to keep on the sphere this season after lacking a lot of final yr following wrist surgical procedure, however they're nonetheless on the lookout for outfield depth.
On Sunday, the workforce signed Tim Locastro to a serious league deal, filling out the 40-man roster.
However earlier than that transfer was official, Aaron Boone made it sound as if there nonetheless might be room on the workforce for an previous standby.
Requested whether or not Brett Gardner may return to The Bronx, Boone mentioned, “I definitely consider he can nonetheless play at a excessive stage. I'd by no means say [the door] is closed. I do know the entrance workplace nonetheless values him as a participant and an individual. … We’ll see the way it all performs out, however I wouldn’t rule something out.”
Gardner didn’t signal with the Yankees till simply earlier than spring coaching a yr in the past and went on to play 140 video games, because the Yankee outfield handled a number of accidents.
At 38, the Yankees wouldn’t wish to depend on Gardner like that once more, however his agent, Joe Bick, advised The Submit’s Joel Sherman final month that Gardner needs to proceed enjoying and wish to end his profession with the Yankees — the workforce that drafted him in 2005.
Not like Gardner, Locastro hits from the correct aspect. He performed 9 video games with the Yankees final season after a commerce from the Diamondbacks for minor league right-hander Keegan Curtis earlier than he suffered a torn ACL. The sunshine-hitting 29-year-old was chosen off waivers by the Purple Sox from the Yankees in November, however grew to become a free agent later that month.
He’s performed 148 video games in his profession, with 65 appearances in heart.
The aim, although, is to discover a technique to preserve Hicks on the sphere.
“I’m enthusiastic about Aaron,’’ Boone mentioned of the 32-year-old. “His well being has been a problem the final couple years, however we all know what sort of participant he's when he’s wholesome.”
Hicks hasn’t performed in additional than 59 video games in a season since 2018, however was principally wholesome within the COVID-shortened 2020 season. And the Yankees have been inspired he was in ok type to play winter ball within the Dominican Republic.
“His initiative speaks to his starvation to get again to the extent we all know he can get to,’’ Boone mentioned of the swap hitter who has 4 years left on his contract. “My hope is he’s gonna be a very good participant for us.”
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