Yankees, Jacoby Ellsbury agree to seven-year $153M deal

The New York Yankees have officially agreed to a long-term deal with free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury.

According to NBC Sports, the agreement reached with the former Boston Red Sox centerfielder is a seven-year, $150 million deal.

While spending this kind of money in the off-season is nothing new for the Yankees, but rather a common practice, this move is raising questions about the franchise’s ability to re-sign second baseman Robinson Cano.

Yahoo! Sports reports that the Ellsbury signing does not preclude the Yankees from being able to re-sign Cano, however, it does make the prospect seem bleak given the money Cano is asking for.

Meanwhile reactions to the Ellsbury deal have been mixed. Albeit he is good fielder and hitter, but is 30-years-old and has been injury prone his entire career.

Last season, Ellsbury batted for .298, had an OBP of .355 and hit nine homers for the Sox.

This pickup for the Bronx Bombers seems reminiscent of when the team signed another Red Sox outfielder coming off of a championship. The Johnny Damon deal came at a much lower cost though and worked out in the Yankees favor.