Aaron Hicks returned to his Yankees form and that didn’t work for the Angels.
Hicks, 34, was designated for assignment by Los Angeles on Monday after batting .140 in 18 games. The outfielder was 8 for 57 with the Angels and had only one hit in his last 19 at-bats.
“We just thought we needed to start making some changes,” manager Ron Washington said before Monday night’s 6-5 win against the Philadelphia Phillies. “I love Aaron Hicks and I appreciate what he did during the time he was here, but it was time to move on.”
The Yankees released Hicks in May 2023 after playing in 28 games last season, hitting .188 with a .524 OPS.
The Yankees still owed Hicks $30 million but he was in his third straight season of sub-par play in The Bronx.
Hicks then signed with the rival Orioles and was a different player — hitting .275 with seven homers and 31 RBIs over 65 games as he helped Baltimore win the AL East.
But his struggles returned in 2024 after he signed a one-year deal with the Angels in late January.
He started only two of the last six games after Jo Adell took over as the starting right fielder.
The Angels, who broke a five-game losing streak on Monday night, called up Cole Tucker to take Hicks’ spot on the roster.
Tucker went for 1-for-3 in his Angels debut on Monday, driving in the tying run with a single in the seventh inning.
“We’re not trying to give a message to anyone that if you don’t do this and if you don’t do that, you won’t be here. But if they don’t do this and they don’t do that, then they won’t,” said Washington, who is in his first season leading the Angels and celebrated his 72nd birthday on Monday.