New York Yankees: Jacoby Ellsbury showing signs of life once more

Oft injured outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury is a forgotten man with the New York Yankees, but he is starting to show signs of life once again.

The New York Yankees outfield appears set as the calendar turns to March. Brett Gardner will lineup in left, Aaron Hicks in center, and Aaron Judge in right. While Giancarlo Stanton may see some action in the outfield this year, he is the primary designated hitter. Clint Frazier and Tyler Wade are likely to be the backup outfielders, giving New York one of the deeper outfields in the game.

Another piece of that outfield puzzle is slowly starting to find his way back. Oft injured outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury is showing some signs that he is still alive, as he has begun running on flat ground once again.

As has been proven in the past, just because Ellsbury is mobile does not mean that he will see the diamond at any point in the near, or even distant, future. He still needs to be evaluated again by Yankees medical personnel, if he makes it to that point without another injury.

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At this point, Ellsbury should collect his checks from the Yankees while wearing a ski mask and claiming to have a weapon. Since signing that seven year, $153 million contract following the 2013 season, he has hardly been the player that they hoped for when he has been able to actually play. Ellsbury has a .264/.330/.386 batting line with 39 homers and 102 steals over his four seasons of action, while playing average defense in center.

Last season, Ellsbury did not take the field at all. He was felled in Spring Training with a strained oblique and a sore back, before having hip surgery in August. At least his contract was covered by insurance last year.

Even if Ellsbury comes back healthy, it is difficult to see a place for him in the lineup. He could serve as the Yankees fourth outfielder, pushing Frazier aside once more. While Ellsbury would be a solid bat to have around in case of injury, it is not as though he is a bastion of health either. Of course, this is all hypothetical, because it is not a given that he will get through his rehab without a setback.

Jacoby Ellsbury is starting to show signs of life. However, the New York Yankees should not be holding their breath waiting for him to return to the lineup.