At long last, it’s over. Well, the paychecks aren’t over. But Jacoby Ellsbury won’t be playing for the Yankees anymore.
The Yankees cut Ellsbury this week, freeing up space on their 40-man roster and effectively eating the $26 million remaining on the seven-year, $153 million contract the outfielder signed back in 2013.
Ellsbury was signed away from the Boston Red Sox, and back then figured to be the star in the Yankees outfield for the foreseeable future. It didn’t work out that way.
Following a nice season in 2014 which saw him go .271/.328/.419 with 16 dingers and 39 stolen bases, Ellsbury has spent the last few years doing not much at all. He’s battled a variety of injuries, and hasn’t even played for the team since the 2017 ALCS, when he was used as a pinch runner.
According to CBS Sports, the Yankees were able to recoup some insurance on his contract for the past two seasons, but with no insurance in 2020, they decided to rip the band-aid off and cut him from the team.
For Ellsbury, he’ll have to settle with getting paid $26 million to chill. May we all be so lucky.
