San Francisco Giants MLB Trade Rumors: Jacoby Ellsbury Could Waive No-Trade Clause for the Giants
With Aaron Hicks seemingly a lock to start at the center field position next season after a solid 2017 campaign, Jacoby Ellsbury may have finally realized that he no longer has a place with the New York Yankees.
According to FanRag Sports' Jon Heyman, the veteran center fielder might be willing to waive his no-trade clause for a few teams, including the San Francisco Giants.
"Ellsbury could fit in as the Giants' center fielder, whereas with the Yankees he seems destined to be the fourth outfielder, as Yankees people say they are going with Aaron Hicks in center field. Ellsbury lives in the Phoenix area, so the Giants' spring home in Scottsdale would be a plus for him, too," Heyman said in his report.
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"He had been hoping to stay with the Yankees and try to win the center-field job, but Hicks is seen as a rising star," he added.
Ellsbury's agent, Scott Boras, has previously said the veteran was ready to compete for playing time when spring training starts, but he's unlikely to unseat Hicks. Of course, he could always stay with the Yankees if he's willing to play the fourth outfielder role, but it would appear that he's considering other options.
The Giants do have a hole to fill in center field after they shipped Denard Span to the Tampa Bay Rays as part of the trade package for third baseman Evan Longoria. The Yankees would also love to unload Ellsbury and his bloated contract (around $63 million in the next three seasons).
As Heyman has pointed out, Ellsbury actually did fine last season, but he missed a good chunk of the season after he sustained a concussion.
Ellsbury posted a 0.264/0.348/0.402 in 112 games with the Yankees last season, and he had seven home runs, 39 runs batted in and 20 doubles in 409 plate appearances.
