As the New York Yankees navigate through the off-season, there has been much debate among fans about whether or not certain players, specifically Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Aaron Hicks, and Josh Donaldson, should remain with the team.
While each player brings their own set of skills and talents to the field, there are also some who think there are valid reasons why it may be time for them to let go of the Pinstripes. Let’s dive into the arguments as to why the Yankees fans believe these players should move on from the team.
The arguments as to why certain players don’t fit the mold of a true Yankee
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A Twitter user recently stirred up a storm among baseball fans by posting a thread filled with sarcastic commentary and footage of three New York Yankees players, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Aaron Hicks, and Josh Donaldson.
The thread showcased the players’ defensive and offensive blunders, igniting a fiery debate among fans about whether they are truly worthy of wearing the legendary pinstripes of the New York Yankees.
Elite defense pic.twitter.com/YJvh6hkYgK
— Mordy (@MordyMilgraum) January 19, 2023
Great in the playoffs pic.twitter.com/Cm98luc3BX
— Mordy (@MordyMilgraum) January 19, 2023
All Star pic.twitter.com/0Ugs0JzROl
— Mordy (@MordyMilgraum) January 19, 2023
Great contact https://t.co/6SQuFw3SSx
— Mordy (@MordyMilgraum) January 19, 2023
The reaction’s to the thread were mixed. One reply went even as far as to say, “The only reason that counts is this…Yankees are better off without them.”
The only reason that counts is this…Yankees are better off without them
— R.ScottTilley (@Yankeeslibero7) January 19, 2023
Oh I love this
— Ryan Cannon (@ryancannon28) January 19, 2023
— Rush yah (@RushyahYah) January 19, 2023
Putting Hicks in here is mean. He's not good and shouldn't be in pinstripes anymore but he's spent a good amount of years in pinstripes and I'm gonna remember him as a fun yankee.
IKF and Donaldson I wish they'd never been on the team
— Adam (@SadJetsFann) January 19, 2023
I’m not a huge fan of IKF but he’s not in the same class as the other two. IKF was always a short term solution. Hicks and Donaldson are both long term albatrosses!
— William Mattox (@billmattox52) January 20, 2023
Fans’ reactions were a flurry of mixed opinions. Some believed the thread to be true. While others believed that there was space for improvement for at least one of the players.
The three Yankee players’ last season stats:
IKF’s numbers may not have been eye-popping, but with a .261 average, four home runs, and 48 RBIs in 142 games, he proved to be a steady presence in the lineup in 2022.
On the other hand, his teammates Aaron Hicks and Josh Donaldson had seasons they’d rather forget. Hicks, known for his defensive prowess, had a hard time finding his footing at the plate, batting just .216 with 8 home runs and 40 RBIs.
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Donaldson, a former MVP, and three-time All-Star had a season filled with ups and downs. From getting suspended for making a controversial comment to posting a batting line of .222/.308/.374 with 15 home runs and 62 RBIs and having the lowest contact rate in majors.
Despite their struggles, both Hicks and Donaldson did have one shining moment. Each hitting a grand slam that helped lift their team to victory. On this note, the Yankees have finally made Aaron Judge‘s mega-deal official, and it has relieved the tension the Yankees’ nation had been holding.
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WATCH THIS STORY: Is Aaron Judge’s $360 Million Deal the Biggest New York Yankee Contract of All Time?
By the way, do you agree that the Yankees should get rid of some players if they want to win titles? Tell us your views in the comments section below!