How Jacoby Ellsbury's contract is helping the New York Yankees

Jacoby Ellsbury has one of the biggest contracts in baseball but doesn’t have a clear path to playing time in 2018. His contract, however, could be benefiting the New York Yankees.

Jacoby Ellsbury is set to make just over $21 million per year for the next three seasons and has a $5 million buyout for 2021. It’s a difficult contract for the New York Yankees, to say the least.

Ellsbury has the third-highest salary among Yankees players and has the 28th biggest contract in all of baseball. His production does not justify such a contract and he’s stuck behind Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Brett Gardner, and Aaron Hicks on New York’s outfield depth chart.

The Yankees have been trying to move Ellsbury and his contract this offseason. They’re even reportedly willing to eat half of the contract to get him off their books, but still can’t find any takers.

Until the Yankees can unload Ellsbury’s contract, they aren’t adding any other significant money. That’s preventing them from signing Mike Moustakas, Jake Arrieta, or Alex Cobb. Ellsbury’s contract also prevented the Yankees from signing Yu Darvish to the six-year, $126 million deal that he recently signed with the Chicago Cubs.

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Missing out on such a commitment to a 31-year-old pitcher with 2100.2 innings pitched between Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan is a blessing in disguise.

Darvish has a lot of tread on his tires and likely won’t be worth $20+ million in years five and six of his contract. Thanks to Jacoby Ellsbury, the Cubs will be regretting that deal instead of the Yankees.

Although Cobb and Moustakas wouldn’t cost $20+ million, the Yankees don’t necessarily need them. Cobb would likely send Jordan Montgomery to Triple-A to start the season and delay Justus Sheffield and Chance Adams from making their major league debuts. Moustakas would send Miguel Andujar to Triple-A to start the season despite the prospect proving he’s ready to hit at the big league level.

Next: Yankees making Gleyber Torres earn starting 2B job

Jacoby Ellsbury and his contract are a burden on the New York Yankees. There’s no doubt about it. However, by not being able to move his contract, the Yankees avoided handing out another regrettable contract to Darvish and will be able to give their young prospects better opportunities to make the major league roster this year.

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How Jacoby Ellsbury’s contract is helping the New York Yankees

By Sean Dyer | Feb 17, 2018

Jacoby Ellsbury has one of the biggest contracts in baseball but doesn’t have a clear path to playing time in 2018. His contract, however, could be benefiting the New York Yankees.

More from Empire Writes Back