Comments on: The Case for Bringing Back Jacoby Ellsbury http://boston.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2015/10/09/the-case-for-bringing-back-jacoby-ellsbury/ Bringing BP-quality analysis to Boston Mon, 20 Aug 2018 04:19:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1 By: Brian http://boston.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2015/10/09/the-case-for-bringing-back-jacoby-ellsbury/#comment-3329 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 03:21:20 +0000 http://boston.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=2649#comment-3329 Committing to Ellsbury for five years doesn’t make sense for this organization. In the short term there’s a real chance he’s not as good as Rusney or JBJ. While I think he’ll be more productive than either one next season I don’t think the gap will be significant enough to add his salary.

Beyond the next season, the Red Sox will have Manuel Margot, Andrew Benintendi, and possibly Yoan Moncada (he’s probably not sticking at 2b) as MLB ready talents who profile in CF. Sure, the Red Sox could trade 2 or 3 of Margot/JBJ/Castillo/Benintendi/Moncada/Mookie, but that would STILL leave a logjam. At this point Ellsbury’s health lowers his floor to a point where the possible short term upgrade over Castillo or JBJ clearly isn’t worth a five year commitment. The Red Sox are loaded with talents that bring a similar skill set to Ellsbury’s prime, and they are all cheap and young. Pass.

]]> By: Gerryt http://boston.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2015/10/09/the-case-for-bringing-back-jacoby-ellsbury/#comment-3320 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 15:56:45 +0000 http://boston.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=2649#comment-3320 Never Betts. But the boards sometimes do discuss moving JBJ or Rusney, and bring back Papelbon which seems equally ridiculous. Wait a minute! Ells and Paps back in Red Sox at the right price seems more right than ridiculous.

What if a subsidized Pap made the Pen much better withoit having to trade top prospects/playrrs and spend up to $13M for Chapman or Kimbrell? What if a subsidized Ells made the OF much better, without Rusney or JBJ.

The Sox are looking for a strong 4th OF ($4 – 8M). No one is certain whether JBJ or Rusney will become AllStars or 4th OF; nor whether Ells will regain his AllStar ceiling. Their bats are the question, not their defense. Among them are four outstanding defenders, two LHB and two RHB. With Ells subsidy, all four excellent, speedy defenders with potentially strong bats would cost in the range of $25-28M for the next several years. What a deal. This also frees Dave to trade top prospect Manny Margot to trade for pktching; allows Beni to fully develop; gives the FO to see if one ot two of this OF develop more trade value than they now have.

Ells (and Paps) in 2016, at the right price, could help return the Sox to the postseason, so maybe not so rididiculous after all.

]]> By: Walt in Maryland http://boston.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2015/10/09/the-case-for-bringing-back-jacoby-ellsbury/#comment-3225 Fri, 09 Oct 2015 16:33:16 +0000 http://boston.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=2649#comment-3225 Sorry, it’s a ridiculous argument. Unless the Yankees are taking back Hanley Ramirez, it’s a non-starter. Boston got Ellsbury’s best years at a bargain price. The Sox have a better center fielder who’s nine years younger and five years from free agency.

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