New York Yankees News: Jacoby Ellsbury Out For How Long?

Jacoby Ellsbury hurt his knee back on the 19th of this month. Ellsbury was having a quality start to his 2015 season. Ellsbury and Brett Gardner were catalysts to the Yankee attack. Now, Ellsbury may be out longer. A good amount longer than we thought.

"“That’s not easy to replace,” Girardi said of Ellsbury’s production. “I would hope we would have him within a month. That would be my hope. I can’t tell you that we will.”"

On the plus side, if there’s anywhere the Yankees have some depth it’s in the outfield. Despite the recent slump, Chris Young has done a great job off the bench. It gives the Yankees more of an opportunity to evaluate Slade Heathcott at the major league level.

"“It could depend on right-handed, left-handed,” Girardi said. “It also depended on someone’s health the last couple of days.”"

If the Yankees want to get Garrett Jones in more, they could move Gardner to center every so often as well. 

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If Heathcott fails, the Yankees have depth in the minor leagues as well. Ramon Flores is on the 40-man roster and is fifth on the team in OPS. The guy who’s really turning heads is Ben Gamel.  He’s fourth in average, eighth in on base, and fifth in slugging in the International League. Mason Williams has been off to a good start since arriving in Scranton as well.

Obviously losing Ellsbury is a big blow, but it gives a chance for the Yankees to look at Heathcott at the major league level. The Yankees can finally reach down to the upper minors for a replacement instead of trying to buy a replacement.

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