The New York Yankees have released former All-Star Jacoby Ellsbury ahead of the 40-man roster deadline, the team announced on Wednesday night:
The Yankees made the following roster moves:
•Added OF Estevan Florial, RHPs Deivi García, Luis Gil, Brooks Kriske, Luis Medina, Nick Nelson & Miguel Yajure to the Major League roster
•Released OF Jacoby Ellsbury
•Designated 1B Greg Bird & LHP Nestor Cortes Jr. for assignment— Yankees PR Dept. (@YankeesPR) November 21, 2019
Ken Davidoff and George A. King III of the New York Post report that Ellsbury's final season was not ensured, which essentially served as the final catalyst for the decision:
Cutting the 36-year-old Ellsbury means the Yankees will swallow the $26 million remaining on the seven-year, $153 million free-agent contract the center fielder signed prior to the 2014 season.
Ellsbury’s final season at $21 million wasn’t going to be insured and there is a $5 million buyout on a $21 million option for 2021.
Davidoff and King also note that the $21 million going to Ellsbury this season will count towards the Yankees' luxury tax threshold number, despite the fact that they are releasing the veteran outfielder. Ellsbury has not played since 2017 due to a number of injuries that also resulted in him having hip surgery in 2018.
The Yankees signed Ellsbury to that massive deal after he led the league in stolen bases and finished 15th in the American League MVP voting as a member of the Boston Red Sox in 2013, just two years after he was the runner-up for the award.
Ellsbury never came close to matching his production in Boston as a member of the Yankees. In four years with the Bronx Bombers, Ellsbury put together a .264/.330/.386 slash line, and a combination of injuries continued to plague what–at one time–looked to be an otherwise promising career.
Instead, Ellsbury will likely be remembered by Yankees fans as having one of the worst contracts in franchise history. At 36 years old, it is unlikely that he can find a suitor in the MLB.
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