Drama in the Bronx with Ellsbury - No intent to pay him

[MMMordabito]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/11/yankees-jacoby-ellsbury-salary-dispute-injury-boras-rumors.html

 

I wonder how this affects their total toward the luxury tax limit.

 

I'm happy that both the Yankees and Scott Boras will have to use resources to settle this matter.  I wish them both the worst.

[Cody Pirkl]

I would guess if they can get it legitimately settled it would be off of their luxury tax limit. This is going to be an absolute mess though. I can't see either side settling and it's probably going to take an arbitrator and possibly an investigation to find out how this is going to be taken care of. 

 

Yankee's had better hope they have some legitimate proof to their claims. Bold move to simultaneously piss off Boras (Gerrit Cole's agent) and raised an enormous red flag on their organization by going for this money grab. By the end I guess they still end up paying a non insignificant portion and wind up regretting this whole ordeal.

[Squirrel]

It sounds like the Yankees were looking for any possible way out of that contract, and are gambling they found it. Yeah ... it's going to be a mess. But an interesting mess to follow! And they better have some really good proof or this could set a bad precedence if whomever sides with the Yankees on this.

[AceWrigley]

The Yankees are a pretty sharp organization. I can't see them pursuing this without having done their homework upfront on this. They must feel that they have good evidence that Ellsbury violated his player agreement by going outside for medical services that resulted in preventing him from perfoming on the field. This should be interesting to watch.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Yankee's had better hope they have some legitimate proof to their claims. Bold move to simultaneously piss off Boras (Gerrit Cole's agent) and raised an enormous red flag on their organization by going for this money grab. By the end I guess they still end up paying a non insignificant portion and wind up regretting this whole ordeal.

Meh. I think Boras would probably do the same thing, if the situation was reversed. And I don't think he'd change his approach in negotiations whether the Yankees do this or not.

 

Remember when the Yankees tried to void A-Rod's contract too?

[Mike Sixel]

I hope the Yankees lose this bet, and own Jacoby millions more in damages. I'd say the same thing if it was the Twins.

[Celebrity Weddings!]

 

I hope the Yankees lose this bet, and own Jacoby millions more in damages. I'd say the same thing if it was the Twins.

 

Looks like the MLBPA is on the case, and big *yes* to your post. 

[Riverbrian]

I'm not sure but... I'm starting to think that baseball is a business. 

[ashbury]

I'm not sure but... I'm starting to think that baseball is a business. 

I think it's possible to find references to someone like Ty Cobb complaining that the players now are in it just for the money, not like back when he started. It's a never ending refrain.

[MMMordabito]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/12/mlb-players-union-files-grievance-on-behalf-of-jacoby-ellsbury.html

 

I really hope this does not go the Yankees way.

 

I loathe the team and always hope for the worst for them.

 

It's so easy to do when they go sign one guy for $345 million while at the same time trying to screw another player out of $26 million. I also wouldn't be surprised if Scott Boras agreed not to comment on the Ellsbury situation if the Yankees sweetened the deal for Cole.  He would typically have something to say in these situations, as much as he runs his mouth.

 

Evil Empire indeed.

 

Brett Gardner being a nice guy with the Altuve's home run ball does zero to make me feel any different.

[nicksaviking]

I'm not sure that I have enough of the nitty gritty details to weigh in on who I think is most at fault.

 

But yeah, anything bad that happens to the Yankees makes me smile. So, I'm Team Ellsbury.

[ewen21]

I want the Yankees to get screwed, but I hope Ellbsury has every cent taken from him after the Yankees are forced to pay him off.

[ewen21]

Only my intense hatred for the Yankees makes me want this to happen.  With other team, in any other situation, I would be in favor of this becoming a landmark case against guaranteed contracts in baseball.  There has to be a limit to what is allowed and if there is then it is better for the Twins.

 

These players make enough money,

[jkcarew]

Zero risk to Yankees. The fact that they're bothering at all to do this is a good indication that they have information indicating there's at least a decent chance they end up paying less than the full remaining value. But, even if not, so what? Nobody...Boras...or any other player or agent, will hold this over the Yankees. Meaningful bias doesn't develop against the single biggest buyer of services in the marketplace. In 2018, the Yankees reacted to Ellsbury's seven-year, $153MM contract blowing up...by taking on almost $300M and 10 years of Giancarlo Stanton. The trade market for Stanton at that time consisted of....the Yankees. And the Yankees will do the same/similar when Stanton's contract blows up. The luxury tax, as currently constructed, means nothing to the Yankees, despite the fact that they occasionally give it lip service.

[MABB1959]

I get the Yankee hate but would love to have owners with a WS or nothing attitude.  We have a team that hopes and builds for a play-off series not even a win every once in a while.  Last year was a blast to watch enjoyed every minute of the season but they get a big red F when it matters.  And I do not expect anything different ever.  That is why players don't want to come here.

 

 

[ewen21]

 

I get the Yankee hate but would love to have owners with a WS or nothing attitude.  We have a team that hopes and builds for a play-off series not even a win every once in a while.  Last year was a blast to watch enjoyed every minute of the season but they get a big red F when it matters.  And I do not expect anything different ever.  That is why players don't want to come here.

Agree and Disagree.  I agree that a tangible reason players don't come here is the postseason failures.  It's just too much to shrug off at this point.

 

I disagree in that the GM/owners gave them all they needed last year.  They won 101 games and it was the players who get the big red F for the manner in which they performed in the postseason.  Rocco's comments at the end were insane.  He seems to be more about the player's fraternity and having fun than he is winning.  Last year's offseason is on the players.  They pretended there was no monkey on their back and that the past had nothing to do with them.  Rocco and the players were indoctrinated into the mindset where everyone tries to make excuses and "keep things positive" and it is killing this organization.

 

Well guess what?  That group is now part of the same past that so many insisted was irrelevant.  How long before people begin to accept there is a problem with the culture in this organization that far exceeds their payroll constraints?  It really is simple to complain about how the owner doesn't spend and in doing that it absolves the players.  No way in heck should they be absolved for the latest postseason abomination.  I am not a FalveyLevine disciple, but they did a great job putting together last year's team.

 

I also think the fans need to have more of a stomach for speaking the truth rather than feeling the need to "positive spin" on things.  Why can't we be truthful?  All the teams in our division have made it to the WS in the last 20 years.  None of them seem to have an inferiority syndrome in the playoffs.  This team does and one free agent pitcher won't cure it.

 

I don't know what the answer is, but whatever we have done doesn't work.

[ewen21]

Now, I can go back to 2006 and 2009 where the GM did nothing to help a contending team on the rise at the trade deadline.  That isn't the case nearly as much anymore.  I will go as far as to say the 2010 team had all it needed, but they chose to coast to the finish line resting players and acting like it didn't make a difference who they played.

 

That mindset still exists and it is toxic

[cardsfan]

Agree and Disagree. I agree that a tangible reason players don't come here is the postseason failures. It's just too much to shrug off at this point.

 

I disagree in that the GM/owners gave them all they needed last year. They won 101 games and it was the players who get the big red F for the manner in which they performed in the postseason. Rocco's comments at the end were insane. He seems to be more about the player's fraternity and having fun than he is winning. Last year's offseason is on the players. They pretended there was no monkey on their back and that the past had nothing to do with them. Rocco and the players were indoctrinated into the mindset where everyone tries to make excuses and "keep things positive" and it is killing this organization.

 

Well guess what? That group is now part of the same past that so many insisted was irrelevant. How long before people begin to accept there is a problem with the culture in this organization that far exceeds their payroll constraints? It really is simple to complain about how the owner doesn't spend and in doing that it absolves the players. No way in heck should they be absolved for the latest postseason abomination. I am not a FalveyLevine disciple, but they did a great job putting together last year's team.

 

I also think the fans need to have more of a stomach for speaking the truth rather than feeling the need to "positive spin" on things. Why can't we be truthful? All the teams in our division have made it to the WS in the last 20 years. None of them seem to have an inferiority syndrome in the playoffs. This team does and one free agent pitcher won't cure it.

 

I don't know what the answer is, but whatever we have done doesn't work.

The biggest problem is developing starting pitching or trading for young starters. Signing older free agent pitchers can hamstring the budget.

[Squirrel]

Please keep this to the topic of the Yankees and the Ellsbury contract situation. If you want to have a broader discussion about players and long-term contracts and the effects on a team, that would be an interesting topic for someone to write up and start their own thread discussion.

 

Any news on where the Ellsbury situation is currently?