Yankees trading Jacoby Ellsbury looks impossible

Yankees outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury’s no-trade clause will keep him in New York unless the club’s GM Brian Cashman can do the impossible: find another contender who wants him.

Well, Yankees Fans, the guy nobody talks about and everyone wants to forget is finally coming back. According Brian Hoch:

Jacoby Ellsbury (oblique, foot, hip) has begun running and hitting according to Yankees manager Aaron Boone. Ellsbury was transferred from the 10-day to the 60-day disabled list on Wednesday, but Boone told reporters that he could be returning to the field within the next 10 days. Because he’s on the 60-day disabled last, the earliest he’ll be eligible to return is the end of May.

With Aaron Hicks in control of centerfield, Clint Frazier banging on the door at Triple-A, and Billy McKinney due to come off the DL sometime this month, the Yankees; outfield looks a little crowded and makes the roster even more crunched for Brian Cashman.

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The Bombers now carry four outfielders, six infielders, two catchers, five starting pitchers, and eight relievers in the bullpen. Tyler Austin seems to be the only option to lose his spot on the 25 man.

With Greg Bird also due back this month, I cannot see any way for Cashman to maneuver his way out of this problem without trading or releasing some players.

Cashman should not upset the balance of his club

The Yankees are winning with the current team on the field looks like a club bound for the World Series. Ellsbury is not going to waive his no-trade clause and leave this team unless it is to another strong contender.

The question is who would want him? Cashman couldn’t get rid of him in the offseason, and even if the Yanks were to eat all of his $21.4 million salary over the next three years ($5 million buyout in 2021), Ellsbury would stay put on this historic team.

The Yankees will need to showcase Ellsbury on the field to prove that he has any value at all so unless he returns before Brandon Drury and Bird, manager Aaron Boone would be forced to alternate him with Aaron Hicks, which seems unlikely.

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The Yankees’ outfield is doing just fine, and there is an age-old adage, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”  It seems like the only solution for Brian Cashman will be to eat the remainder of Ellsbury’s contract and release him because trading him is impossible.