Ellsbury an interesting option for Phillies
NASHVILLE -- The domino effect that can occur whenever a team makes a move at the winter meetings may have created another center-field option for the Phillies via trade Tuesday.
Ellsbury an interesting option for Phillies
Bob Brookover, Inquirer Baseball Columnist
NASHVILLE -- The domino effect that can occur whenever a team makes a move at the winter meetings may have created another center-field option for the Phillies via trade Tuesday.
After the Boston Red Sox signed former Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino to a three-year, $39 million deal, the rumblings started that they may be ready to move Jacoby Ellsbury, a player who finished second in the American League MVP voting in 2011.
A separated shoulder limited Ellsbury to 74 games in 2012, marking the second time in three seasons he missed substantial time because of injuries. A rib injury limited him to 18 games in 2010.
The Phillies are already relying on Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Roy Halladay to have comeback seasons after missing long stretches of the 2012 season, so it would be a risk to count upon Ellsbury as their starting center fielder, too.
On the other hand, the reward would be great if Ellsbury returned to his 2011 form when he hit .321 with 47 doubles, 32 home runs and 105 RBIs while also stealing 39 bases and scoring 119 runs.
The risk in terms of dollars and long-term commitment would not be significant. Ellsbury, 29, will be a free agent after the 2013 season, so he should be motivated to play for a long-term deal. He made just over $8 million last season and probably will be paid right around that number next season.
Whenever Ellsbury has been healthy he has been an elite player. He led the American League in stolen bases with 50 in 2008 and 70 in 2009. He has scored 90 or more runs in the three seaosns he played at least 145 games and he has a .349 career on-base percentage.
Like Michael Bourn, the best pure free-agent center fielder on the free-agent market at these winter meetings, Ellsbury is represented by agent Scott Boras. Since Ellsbury is only eligible for salary arbitration, there would be no significant negotations.
What would the Phillies have to surrender in a trade for Ellsbury? The deal could get done for righthander Vance Worley because the Red Sox need another starting pitcher. Worley, 25, should be attractive to a lot of teams even though he is coming off a frustrating season caused by a bone spur that was surgically removed in September. Worley is not eligible for salary arbitratrion until after the 2013 season and cannot be a free agent until after the 2017 season. The Red Sox, after spending big in the free-agent market this offseason, should like that kind of low-cost option for the back of their starting rotation.
Worley had elbow issues in college and now elbow surgery. I do not think he is going to get better over the next few years and might actually already be well on his way to TJ surgery. I wold dump him on somebody if we could.
Having said that, is Ellsbury the guy? When I think of Ellsbury, I see Grady Sizemore in my head. Loads of talent, can't stay healthy or on the field. Pretty big risk, but I wold do it for Worley, not for any other guy but maybe Cloyd. And I guess if we are seriously considering another LH hitter in Bourn or Hamilton, why not Ellsbury? But I am too lazy to look up his stats facing lefties...somebody get on that for me, would you?— Mark1npt- He hits lefties better than any right-handed hitter on the Phillies hits lefties. Sizemore's injuries have been of the back and knee surgery variety plus some other oddball injuries throughout his career. Ellsbury basically had a rib injury and a dislocated shoulder. Still a risk but I'd roll the dice on him, at least way more so than Sizemore
- Boras is for all purposes out of any deal. Ellsbury IS NOT a free agent and is only eligible for arbitration. Note to Ruben: $8 mil is cheap compared to what Victorino got and Bourn will command. Sign him.— 1republican
- I think they should take a one-year guy like Ellsbury if they can get him, rather than commit dollars and years to an aging guy like Bourn. See what happens with Ruf, Gillies, and Brown in 2013 and then move on from there for 2014.— jtj10
- Let me try to understand this. The Red Sox have a CF of Ellsbury's caliber and they sign Shane Victorino to a fat three year deal? If they are foolish enough to consider that an upgrade, maybe they really would consider taking Vance (One Year Wonder) Worley for Ellsbury. The Phillies would then still have money to pursue not only a corner outfielder but also a free agent pitcher equal to or better than Worley while the Petitbons, Biddles, Morgans, and Martins wait in the wings.
Ruin, exactly what you need may be right there with a big red bow on it. Get after it already!— dasher - BTW, I'd dump Worley at the first opportunity. He's fat and out of shape which will catch up to him and derail any hopes he has for a successful career.— jtj10
- I dont know about you guys writing about this player or that player, we are in a lot of trouble. We need at least 2 players to catch atlanta and 4 players to catch washington, i dont see it happening.
we were talkning about the 4 aces couple years ago? now we are down to 2 and a half and the other guys have 5 and a better lineup, we are doomed.— wildgreenman - I have no faith in Brown. ? mark on Ruf. Mayberry was given the
chance and he failed. So if Ruf isn't for real then we need 3
outfielders. Ideally, Ruf is for real and RAJ trades for Stanton.
I'm surprised RAJ hasn't done anything by now. But i believe in
Santa Claus and i asked for Stanton so maybe Santa will have
him under our Christmas tree. Oops, am I allowed to say Christmas
instead of happy holidays?— associate - Jacoby Ellsbury is still a fit for Boston. He is being paid only $8 million and is relatively young compared to Victorino. Shane was signed to play a corner spot and be insurance IF Ellsbury gets injured again. If Boston feels that Jacoby will NOT resign long-term with Boston after next season, then they will indeed look to move him for pitching. If I'm Philly, I'd move both Worley and Schwimmer (he too is a Boris Client) for Ellsbury in a heartbeat. Not sure Boston would do this. This seems more like a reach by our sports writers.— drhoffman
- how can you guys be so gullable. Boston has a mvp candidate to roam the outfield for almost half the money as the flyin hawaain and are willing to trade him? its andrew bynum all over again wake up.— wildgreenman
- WOW...Ellsbury was SECOND in MVP in 2011..he hit over 32 home runs.... had .321 BA, 105 RBI's and stole a ton of bases...WOW, trade a #4 starter for him TODAY!— jim35
- No way Boston makes that move, hope I am wrong.— camasbud
- I guess everyone is missing the part where Boras was mentioned? Not happening. Dumbest report of the winter so far. 2 guys and the best they come up with is this? Anything else you two fellas want to throw at the wall and see if it'll stick? You know if you come up with enough ridiculousness, something is about to stick. You guys and murphy are falling all over each other with nonsense. Worley in a deal for j. upton is just about as stupid. And some of you think Amaro is an idiot??— spittooncj
- @spittooncj - agreed it's unlikely, but what does Boras have to do with it, other than that Ellsbury will be expensive to keep beyond 2013?— schmenkman
