Nearly six years after signing him to a seven-year, $153 million contract, the New York Yankees released outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury on Wednesday.
The Yankees signed Ellsbury in December 2013 after he won a World Series with the Boston Red Sox. New York hoped it would land the player who stole 50-plus bases in 2013. Instead, injuries derailed his time with the Yankees.
Ellsbury played in 149 games in 2014 and performed fairly well with 16 home runs and 39 stolen bases. He played in fewer than 120 games in two of his next three seasons.
The veteran outfielder’s durability issues haunted him even more in the past two seasons. In 2018, an oblique strain, hip injury and then torn labrum cost him the entire season. He then missed all of 2019 due to a foot injury.
Ellsbury will receive $20.14 million from New York for the 2020 season and an additional $5 million for his 2021 buyout. It’s difficult to see the 36-year-old receiving another opportunity.