MLB Breaking News: New York Yankees Part Ways With Jacoby Ellsbury

The New York Yankees released Jacoby Ellsbury on Wednesday ahead of the 8 pm set deadline for teams to pass their 40-man rosters for the Rule 5 draft to be held in San Diego on Dec. 12.

The Yankees are moving on from what experts believe was one of the worst deals in team history. Ellsbury signed a seven-year, $153 million contract in December 2013. After having a strong 2014 season, the center fielder has hit the downward slope since.

The said deal overshadowed other prior woeful deals executed by the Yankees which include the five-year, $20 million contract given to Korean pitcher Kei Igawa and the four-year, $39.96 million deal served to Carl Pvano.

The Yankees will still pay the 35-year-old Ellsbury $26 million: $21 million owed for 2020 plus the $5 million bonus he is entitled to receive after not picking up his 2021 option.

Ellsbury has not seen field action since the 2017 ALCS due to recurring back and hip injuries. Over the 520 games he has played in four seasons with the Yankees, the Oregon-native hit .264 with 39 home runs and 198 RBI.

General manager Brian Cashman earlier mentioned at season’s end press con the uncertainty of Ellsbury’s return in 2020 as he implied that the former 23^rd round pick was still having struggles with his injuries.

“It’s hard to say. Based on how things are played out, right now he’s not someone that’s in a position, health-wise, for me to be answering in the affirmative at this time,” Cashman said.

The two-time World Series champion Ellsbury was last seen with the team when they held their spring training, albeit he did not play in any of the games.

In the same report published by CBS Sports, it was said that the forgettable deal makes the former All-Star “one of the biggest free-agent busts not only in Yankees history but baseball history.”

Over his 17-year MLB career, Ellsbury hit .284/.342/.417 in over 1,200 games with the Red Sox and Yankees.