Over in Bostonland, the beat writers either know something about the Sox willingness to trade Jacoby Ellsbury or they're trying to create a story about trading Ellsbury. There doesn't appear to be any kind of information that lead one to believe he's on the trade block, but it's been talked about here and here.
The second article actually says (in the title) that he is a trade chip. But this is what you get if you read the article:
The last time Ben Cherington worked the general managers meetings in Frank Sinatra’s old stomping grounds was seven years ago, when he was job-sharing with co-GM Jed Hoyer. The duo laid the groundwork then for one of the more monumental trades in recent Red Soxhistory: Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez to the Marlins for Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell.
Cherington now is solely in charge and the only piece of that 2005 trade still in Boston, but one constant remains: The Red Sox are going to be looking for an impact trade. That would mean trading center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, and while the odds never favor a blockbuster, the Sox have a recent track record of being very active on the trade front, large and small.
If they have not yet approached teams about Ellsbury, they should, listening to any and all inquiries. Sometimes, trade destinations crawl out of the woodwork at the oddest times and places.
This guy isn't actually talking about something he knows, but rather something he thinks should happen. Despite that, there is a reasonable chance that they'd be willing to trade him considering his contract and so I started wondering whether or not the Cubs should try to get him.
Ellsbury enters his 3rd year of arbitration and Matt Swartz projects he'll earn $8.1 million. Interestingly, as I was looking for that projected arbitration salary, I came across this article on MLBTR that was posted within the last hour. According to Rosenthal, the Sox are disinclined to trade Ellsbury. Presumably, they don't want to trade him after a down season when he had just put together an MVP caliber season in 2011.
That doesn't mean they won't trade him or won't listen to offers. I'm not sure where I come in. I've come to think of Ellsbury as a very good player, but then I look at his stats and find they're all over the damn map.
| Year | PA | wRC+ | fWAR | rWAR | WARP | avgWAR |
| 2007 | 127 | 136 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.1 |
| 2008 | 609 | 91 | 4.2 | 2.7 | 3.1 | 3.3 |
| 2009 | 691 | 98 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 2.4 |
| 2010 | 83 | 26 | -0.2 | -0.2 | -0.3 | -0.2 |
| 2011 | 729 | 149 | 9.4 | 8 | 7.5 | 8.3 |
| 2012 | 323 | 83 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.8 |
2011 appears to be an aberration. He's always had a lot of potential, but there's little reason to think he can accomplish that kind of success again. He's probably closer to the 2008-2009 Ellsbury, which still has value, especially at his position and salary.
What would it take to acquire Ellsbury? Is it something the Cubs should consider? When I first saw the article a few days ago my first thought was this: hell yes. Then I started looking more closely and I'm in the middle. I'm curious what you guys think.
I was awfully high on Brett Jackson entering last year, but am not nearly so at this point. I think he still could be a decent ballplayer, but that's about it. There's tremendous risk with going with him in CF, but there might only be a little less if the Cubs went with Ellsbury.
Comments
I’d probably trade Vitters for him.
GBTSQuote Reply
@ GBTS:
Only if the Red Sox send some cash. (dying laughing)
mb21Quote Reply
I see Alvin is writing titles for the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20240953
mb21Quote Reply
Well, unless they trade him in the offseason. The injury history might scare some teams away, but that doesn’t seem to be stopping the buzz. Hard to tell what percentage of it is wishcasting though, especially with this FO.
BerseliusQuote Reply
Ellsbury had a monster 2011, but I think he’s one of those guys who has a bigger reputation than he’s worth due to his fantasy baseball value (see also: Carl Crawford to a lesser extent)
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ mb21:
I’m savoring every moment
BerseliusQuote Reply
Can he pitch?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
@ Rizzo the Rat:
He’s no Aaron Miles
BerseliusQuote Reply
Maybe? No, we’re even worse off.
joshQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
My point about not getting much in return still hold whether or not they trade him now or at midseason after he’s proven he’s healthy. If he can prove he’s healthy and effective he’ll more than likely get as much as he’d get now. It’s not going to be much.
mb21Quote Reply
Is there any way to literally farm prospects? Because I think if the Cubs could actually physically grow some adult men who can play baseball (in an off-shore facility is fine) then maybe we can field a team.
I’d take Ellsbury over Jackson.
joshQuote Reply
@ josh:
I wonder if the Sox would take Jackson and Vit(dying laughing)ters for Ellsbury. Probably not.
mb21Quote Reply
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ mb21:
They can offer to sweeten the pot with one of the Cubs top minor league starters, (dying laughing).
joshQuote Reply
@ josh:
Maybe Brooks Raley or Chris Rusin gets the deal done. (dying laughing)
mb21Quote Reply
I like the new Vitters meme. Macro that bitch.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
I wish we could have more than one macro.
mb21Quote Reply
Cubs pursuing Marcum – Per Wittenmeyer (via BN)
WaLiQuote Reply
new shit: http://obstructedview.net/news-and-rumors/cubs-interested-in-brandon-mccarthy-and-shaun-marcum.html
mb21Quote Reply
.
Suburban kidQuote Reply