Ellsbury an interesting option for Phillies
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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.
get him..— teenwolf- get him..— teenwolf
As much as I hate to lose a starting pitcher in a starting pitching lineup that has gotten old and injured, this deal has to be done. Ellsbury is the 5 tool player the Phils thought they had in D Brown (but never panned out).
Get him before Boston comes to their senses....- Rat, if you're concerned about injuries, Ellsbury may not be your favorite:
"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."
Nevertheless, I would definitely give up Worley for him.
Disagree with this, though: "Ellsbury, 29, will be a free agent after the 2013 season, so he should be motivated to play for a long-term deal."
There is no evidence that players do better in their "walk year". For every example of a player who does do well, there is another who doesn't.— schmenkman - apparently the blue jays are making Emilio bonifacio available via trade - wouldn't he make a lotta sense for the phillies as a #2 hitter that can play CF or 3b?— mjb12981
- apparently the blue jays are making Emilio bonifacio available via trade - wouldn't he make a lotta sense for the phillies as a #2 hitter that can play CF or 3b?— mjb12981
- See if they'll take D. Brown, then sign Swisher to play right. I'll take a line-up of:
Rollins
Utley
Ellsbury
Howard
Swisher
Ruiz (post-suspension)
Ruff/Mayberry
Fransden/Galvis— CMI - Get Emilio Bonafacio from the Blue Jays. He can play nearly every position and can steal bases, he can probably even play 3B.— The Bink
- Love it.— SU_alum
- DO IT DO IT DO IT— DONDEN31
- If you're going to go for a light-hitting, high strike out speedster like Bonifacio, I'd get Bourjos, who can at least field well.— schmenkman
- I stopped reading after the word 'Boras'— Relocator
- Lukewarm on Ellsbury as he's in a contract year. If he stays healthy, and if we're not contending, he's likely gone in July. If he gets hurt OR if we are contending, he's gone next offseason, probably headed for the West Coast (he's from Oregon).
I view Worley as a solid, No. 4-type starter for years to come. Is losing him worth a half-season or 1 full season of Ellsbury?
— eman - I like Ellsbury for Worley even up! I would put him at the top of the order. Heck, I would trade Brown for Bonifacio also, and sign Swisher for RF. Pettibone would take over for Worley.— ginzo
- Schmenk: Bourjos actually proved in 2011 -- before Mike Trout took away his playing time -- that he can hit as well as field and run. He batted .271 with a .327 OBP. But Bonifacio is also a better hitter than you let on. That same year, with regular playing time for the first and only season of his career, he batted .296 and had a .360 OBP. However, Bourjos has been a regular CF, while Bonifacio has played the position only occasionally. And Bourjos is just 25 to Bonifacio's 27.— Dave Clemens
