Yankees’ Aaron Hicks gives odd answer to trade-request question after 2-hit game

CLEVELAND — Following his first good game of the season, Aaron Hicks sat at his locker with his head down staring into his cell phone 15 minutes after the final out of the Yankees’ 11-2 slaying of the Guardians.

When a lone reporter approached, the pricy backup outfielder looked up after about 15 seconds to acknowledge a visitor into his personal space.

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With few if any exceptions, Hicks has been approachable, friendly and accompanying to the press throughout his eight seasons as a Yankee, but interviews nowadays aren’t much fun.

Now, talks with reporters often end up including questions about his new role as an extra outfielder, Yankees fans booing him every chance they get and his future with the club, which could be ending before the end of the month.

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After going 2-for-4 with two runs scored out of the nine hole in this blowout win, Hicks first talked about his good game. He was happy to be in the lineup and enjoyed playing a part in a victory.

Then he was asked about how he’s coping mentally after being a regular for years.

Looking uncomfortable, Hicks responded, “I’m just waiting for opportunities to play. When I get the opportunities, I try to make the most out of them. That’s pretty much where I’m at.”

After that, Hicks was asked if he’s talked to management about working a trade, which would be a fresh start – and maybe more playing time – elsewhere.

“That’s a random question,” Hicks responded with a chuckle.

Interesting answer … and it wasn’t a no.

“I’m here to play,” Hicks added. “That’s what I’m here for. I’m here to play. I’m here to play baseball. Know what I mean?”

Give Hicks credit for doing his best not to be a distraction. He’s surely unhappy or maybe even angry with his demotion — Tuesday’s start was just his fourth in the Yankees’ 11 games — but he’s keeping a low profile as best he can.

“We’ve got a good team. I’m sounding like a broken record, but I’m trying to take advantage of opportunities that I’m getting,” Hicks said.

Nobody knows where Hicks is at a month from now.

It’s believed the Yankees have been shopping him for more than a year, but it’s not easy moving a player with a big contract who has been hurt and struggled as much as he has in the last five seasons.

Hicks is only in the fifth season of a seven-year, $70 million contract that includes $20 million guaranteed after 2023, counting a $1 million buyout for 2026.

The Yankees surely don’t want to eat most or all of that money, but they have drop a position player when third baseman Josh Donaldson is back in the next week or so from a hamstring issue and another when center fielder Harrison Bader returns from his spring oblique injury later this month.

Willie Calhoun was called up to replace Donaldson, so he could lose his spot soon even though he’s a spare outfielder and DH option who rakes.

When Bader returns, the Yankees’ options to free up a spot, for the time being, would be optioning utility player Oswaldo Cabrera (highly unlikely), or designated for assignment either utilityman Isiah Kiner-Falefa or Hicks.

On nights like Tuesday, Hicks showed the Yankees and any interested opposing clubs that he’s still a skilled switch-hitter.

The Yankees were convinced they’d get years of quality production after Hicks’ 2017 season — .248 average with 27 homers, 79 RBI, 90 walks, a .372 on-base and an .847 OPS.

Since, Hicks has played at least 60 games just once — 130 last year — while batting .218 with 30 homers in 279 games.

Game 279 was productive. Twice, he led off innings with singles and twice came around to score. After going 0-for-7 in his first three games, a pinch-hit strike out and two starts, he’s now 3-for-8 in his last two, which has his average at .200.

This is progress that’s encouraging to Hicks.

“I felt comfortable in the box,” he said. “I just have to keep building on that. It felt good to get in there and get some at-bats. Yeah, it felt good.”

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Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com.

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