Yankees reportedly offered Jacoby Ellsbury to Diamondbacks

The New York Yankees quest to cut payroll has resulted in their reported attempt to palm Jacob Ellsbury off on the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The New York Yankees seemingly have two goals this offseason – world domination and to lower payroll so that they can slip under the luxury tax in time for the 2018 offseason. They have come closer to the first goal with their acquisition of Giancarlo Stanton, adding his powerful bat to an already impressive lineup. New York has even been able to cut down on salary, essentially giving Chase Headley back to the Padres for Jabari Blash.

However, the Yankees have more contracts to unload. One of those belongs to Jacoby Ellsbury, who, despite the $68.3 Million due to him over the next three years, has now become their fifth outfielder. Understandably, the Yankees are seeking some team to foist off their unnecessary outfielder.

As the Yankees and Diamondbacks have reportedly been engaging in trade talks, it would figure that New York would attempt to foist Ellsbury off on Arizona. Thus far, the Diamondbacks are not bitten, showing little interest in taking on the outfielder.

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If New York is going to trade Ellsbury, now may be the time. Last year, he posted a .264/.348/.402 batting line, hitting seven homers and stealing 22 bases in his 409 plate appearances. That performance was his best since 2014, Ellsbury’s first season in the Bronx.

Yet, even though that was a stronger season by his recent standards, it was still relatively mediocre. Ellsbury had an OPS+ of 97, a below average player raking in the type of salary reserved for a superstar. He had his annual injury, missing a month and a half, and lost playing time to a suddenly revived Aaron Hicks. At this point, Ellsbury does not have a place with New York, and a contract that is an albatross for any possible trades.

Perhaps the best that the Yankees can hope for is that they can give the former All Star away. They essentially did that with Chase Headley, throwing in Bryan Mitchell to give San Diego a reason to take on that contract. New York may well have to part with another highly regarded prospect in order to get some team to absorb the disaster that is Jacoby Ellsbury. That is, if he agrees to waive his no trade clause…

Next: Who hits the most homers for the Yankees in 2018?

The New York Yankees are trying to trade Jacoby Ellsbury. Thus far, the Arizona Diamondbacks are not interested.