Two former Yankees finding early success with new teams

Sometimes a change of scenery can do a player good. A lot of times, that change happens when they leave a big-city market. That is the case for two former members of the New York Yankees.

Gary Sanchez and Aaron Hicks were players that began their Yankees careers with promising signs, but all that changed, and GM Brian Cashman was forced to make some decisions. Those decisions were made and changing teams seems to have done both players some good.

Yankees trade Sanchez to Minnesota Twins

In the middle of spring training in 2022, Cashman sent Sanchez and third baseman Gio Urshela to the Twins in exchange for Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Josh Donaldson, and Ben Rortvedt. During his time in New York, Sanchez became one of the better power-hitting catchers and Urshela turned into a good corner infielder, however, it was time to move on.

Sanchez’s one season with Minnesota was less than stellar as he slashed .205/.282./.377 before being let go the following offseason and not brought back. He signed on with the San Francisco Giants this spring, but was released and then signed with New York’s other team, the Mets, only to be released again. Next up is the San Diego Padres and so far, the returns have been good with it being a small sample size.

In seven games, he has three home runs, with six RBI, and looks like a different player at the plate on a team that is loaded with offensive talent, but has struggled to put it together consistently.

Does this mean that Sanchez has turned a corner and can continue this surge? Time will tell, but if there are any takeaways from his time with the Yankees is that he has the power to be a difference-maker when he’s swinging the bat well in a lineup that can be successful. It gives San Diego a piece to add to a lineup that can hit with the best of them.

Yankees DFA Hicks, who signs with the Baltimore Orioles

Talk about insult to injury. Cashman designated Hicks for an assignment and it was long overdue in New York. He slowly progressed into hogging a roster spot and keeping the hands of manager Aaron Boone tied. The outfield in the Bronx has been and is currently going through injuries with Harrison Bader out again and Aaron Judge injuring his toe in a win over the Los Angeles Dodgers Saturday night. However, Boone has other options that are considered better and would be better than Hicks.

Kiner-Falfea has emerged as an outfield option as well as Jake Bowers, who has supplied some power recently. Let’s not forget about French Cordero too. Hicks did not stay unsigned for long and the team that is ahead of the Yankees in the AL East standings, the Orioles, inked him to a deal when they had to place Cedric Mullins on the IL and the early returns have been good.

In four games with Baltimore, Hicks is 5-for-11 with an RBI, but the main takeaway is that he looks more relaxed at the plate than he did in New York. There could be a number of reasons for that and it could only be a matter of time before he turns the other way back to his late Yankees days, but anything the Orioles can get from him is only going to help them and hurt the Yankees.

A lot of players can’t cut it in the bright lights and over time, Sanchez and Hicks were two in New York. Cashman gave Hicks a big contract and it wasn’t working and he cut ties. Both players have found some success this season, now the only question is, is it newfound success or is it a hot start that can and will quickly cool off? Time will certainly tell.