Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Jacoby Ellsbury becomes a Yankee

Red Sox fans, it's happened again. Another beloved player is headed to play in the Bronx.

Jacoby Ellsbury reportedly has agreed to a 7-year, $153 million deal to be a Yankee.

Ellsbury's leaving is not unexpected. He is an amazing, though injury-prone, player, whose contract was ending, and his speed and batting average are marketable. He is one of the game's best leadoff hitters. If he had gone to many of the other teams that were courting him, it wouldn't stir the anger that many Sox fans feel.

But Ellsbury's signing for the Yankees makes me feel like all those years rooting for him have been wasted.

His poster is hanging on the wall of my son's room. We will have to do something about that.

Once upon a time, there was widespread loyalty among Sox players. But this time has long passed. Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Johnny Damon - all of them former Sox stars who later proudly wore pinstripes.

Ellsbury, fresh off winning a World Series, is next. Surely, he was probably not pleased with the Sox initial offer. And the Yankees need to put together a winning team. Money is a handsome motivator.



 has long passed.