JACOBY ELLSBURY HAS SOME BIG BALLS

I know, the headline's a little much. Hey... you know me since 2010. This is how I speak.

Look, I understand that big time contracts guarantee big time money, whether you are healthy or not, but Jacoby Ellsbury needs to remember what happened during his time as a New York Yankee. Not much.

So who does he get off filing a grievance against the Yankees? You gotta have some big balls.

Now the Yankees aren't standing tall against Ellsbury because he barely played due to injury. I mean, I'm sure that's some of it. But this is the real reason... The Yankees didn't like that he went outside the tent to get medical treatment, and are pretty much accusing him of using some type of remedy that could have quickened his recovery... I.E. A steroid based medicine.  The New York Post has more:

"The Yankees converted the remainder of Ellsbury’s disastrous seven-year, $153 million contract to non-guaranteed, claiming that the 36-year-old violated his deal upon receiving unauthorized medical treatment. Dr. Viktor Bouquette has disputed the team’s charges and Ellsbury contends the treatment didn’t require team approval since it was for a non-baseball-related injury or condition.

Ellsbury, who hasn’t played in two full seasons due to a variety of ailments, was due to make $21 million in 2020 and eligible to receive a $5 million buyout in 2021. The Post has also reported that the Yankees could look to recoup some of the $127 million already paid to Ellsbury."

Now the Yankees have more money than God, and Lord knows they have had players before that have been hurt for just as long and have received treatment outside of the Yankees organization during their recovery time.  Look at Bartolo Colon and the whole blood-spinning controversy a few years ago.  Here's the difference though... Colon played, didn't get hurt nearly as much and the Yankees didn't need the money as much as they probably need it now because of the recent signing of Gerrit Cole. Why? Because they are over, meaning the Yankees are currently above that $208 million competitive balance tax threshold and with the current projected payroll to be nearly $248 million, that is where the luxury-tax rate will significantly rise.

And so why not make Jacoby the example here? Think about Ellsbury's tenure with the Yankees. Just look at his numbers:

2015 and 2017 there's a significantly less number of games played for a player paid as much as he was. He was considered a starter... but he was injured.  In hits there's a drop in those years as well. And of course, for a lead off guy, it's really hard to figure out why he used to steal 52 bases with the Sox, but in the Yankee years he dropped significantly.  Can't do that if that's what you're getting paid to do. Oh yeah, and the most glaring stat that's not there...HE DIDN'T EVEN PLAY IN 2018 AND 2019. Yup... there's nothing for those years. Look at this:

-May 20, 2015, Ellsbury was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a right knee sprain.

-May 24,2017 Ellsbury made a superb catch at the center field wall, but also banged his head at the wall, causing him to suffer a concussion. He was placed on the 7-day disabled list the next day.

-March 19, 2018, the Yankees announced that Ellsbury would not be ready for Opening Day due to a right oblique strain. 

-On April 3, 2018 it was revealed that Ellsbury had been diagnosed with a hip ailment. 

-On August 6, 2018 he had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip and was declared to be out for the rest of the 2018 season. 

-Ellsbury began the 2019 year on the 10-day injured list due to a foot injury. 

-On April 20, 2019 he was transferred to the 60-day injured list. It was revealed that he was dealing with plantar fasciitis and a shoulder injury. 

-On September 8, 2019 the Yankees ruled Ellsbury out for the season.

All that comes from Wikipedia. It's pathetic and shame on the players union for going after the Yankees. Yes, I know... it's about their steroid accusation, sure... but what happened to a little honesty and self-pride on Jacoby's part? Ellsbury was not the player the Yankees signed. Hell... I'd want my money back too!  Bottom line, the Yankees are looking for any reason to collect off this guy because the whole time in New York was a disaster.

What will happen? I have a hunch there will be a middle ground if Ellsbury didn't have a steroid-based medicine used in his recovery.  But if he did, of course the Yankees win this and the player's union looks like a bunch of morons. If there's no proof, the Yankees will eat it and I'm sure they're prepared for that, even though they shouldn't have to. But whatever.

I hate bad break-ups. Everyone picks a side and no one is ever happy.  I just think that with Ellsbury's track record however, he needs to just go away quietly with his tail between his legs.