This spring, the Yankees have bucked tradition and locked up two of their own to contract extensions prior to free agency.
In the case of Aaron Hicks, who is coming off a career year, the uber-talented yet often injured outfielder inked a seven-year, $70 million deal.
Replacing his one-year, $6M contract for 2019 with a club-friendly long-term AAV is exceptionally advantageous as long as Hicks can avoid what was recently deemed as “chronic back pain.”
Severino, the Yanks’ No. 1 starter recently had all three of his arbitration years plus one bought out for $40M.