As expected Jacoby Ellsbury & Red Sox agree on one-year deal

Minutes before the deadline to exchange salary offers, the Red Sox struck a one-year deal with star outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury.  The deal is reportedly worth $8.05 million for one-year which is a substantial raise from the $2.4 million he made last season.  It’s even higher than the projected salary some thought he would get which was in the $5.5 million range.

Last year was beyond a career year for Ellsbury and clearly his agent Scott Boras took advantage of that.  While he still remains under the Red Sox control for the 2013 season, when he will once again be arbitration eligible, both sides could be waiting to see what type of year Ellsbury has this season before committing to anything long term.

For the Red Sox, they’ll wait until probably June before exploring the option of inking Ellsbury to a multi-year deal.  And on the other side, Ellsbury and Boras will likely want to wait until the end of the year, if a long-term deal is even an option. As mentioned in previous posts, Ellsbury very well could hit the free agent market after the 2013 season, a pattern that is so typical of Boras.

If he has another stellar year, which I believe he will (check out my previous post on his 2012 projections) then he’ll get the money he deserves.  Whether or not it’ll be from the Red Sox will remain to be seen.

The Red Sox will wait and see and if Ellsbury picks up right where he left off last season and is puts up monstrous numbers again through the early part of the season then the decision will have to be made.  Trade him now while his stock is threw the roof, or try and ink him long-term.  Of course there is another arbitration year, but if he’s putting up career numbers again, he’ll get the raise for one-year and likely walk at the end of the 2013 season.

So it’s in the best interest for Boston to make every attempt to sign him during the season.  But if Ellsbury listens to Boras and wants to test the free agent market, then get ready Red Sox fans, you may witness the biggest trade since Nomar.

Of course we can once again thank Theo for the absurd contracts that remain a detriment to this team that may not allow the Sox to give Ellsbury the kind of money he’ll deserve; Crawford and Lackey the most noticeable.  But with a boatload of salary set to be come off the books after this season, maybe there will be room to sign him.

This subject isn’t likely to go away as the year begins, in fact it’ll only get worse if Ells gets off to a hot start.

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