Jacoby Ellsbury, who spent the first seven years of his career with the Boston Red Sox, agreed to a seven-year, $153 million contract with the arch-rival New York Yankees, MLB.com reported on Tuesday.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Ellsbury Won Two World Series With the Red Sox
Ellsbury won World Series championships with Boston in 2007 and 2013.
2. Ellsbury is Fast…Like Really Fast
Ellsbury is one of the best athletes in all of baseball. In fact, the 30-year-old was the AL leader in stolen bases in 2008, 2009 and 2013. In 2011, he became the first Boston Red Sox player to join the 30/30 club (30 home runs, 30 steals in a single season).
3. Ellsbury Has Durability Concerns
Injury concerns are the biggest issue with Ellsbury. The Oregon native missed a substantial amount of time with injuries during his tenure in Boston, including playing just 18 games in 2010 with multiple rib fractures.
4. Red Sox Will Receive Supplementary Draft Pick
Since the Red Sox made a qualifying offer to Ellsbury, they will receive a supplementary draft pick – between the first and second rounds – from the Yankees, the Boston Herald reported on Wednesday.
5. Red Sox Need an Outfielder
Ellsbury’s departure means the Red Sox need to replace him. Fortunately, there are a number of enticing options on the free agent market including Shin-Soo Choo and Curtis Granderson.
