After being released by the Yankees on Wednesday, Jacoby Ellsbury was expected to receive the remaining $26 million left on his deal, but that might not be the case.
According to The New York Post, the Yankees will try to get back the money that they owe Ellsbury by filing paperwork on Friday against him, because he used an outside facility that the team did not approve of while rehabbing the injuries that kept him off the field since 2017.
"The Players Association will vigorously defend any action taken against Jacoby or his contract and is investigating potential contract violations by his employer," The Players Association said in a released statement.
Ellsbury has missed the last two seasons with multiple injuries, which included requiring hip surgery in August of 2018. Because he received unapproved medical attention during this time, the Yankees could try and get back some of the $127 million they've already paid him.
Ellsbury's salary in 2020 was set to be $21 million, with a buyout of $5 million added to it on a 2021 option of another $21 million, but he will instead clear waivers and become a free agent.
In return, Ellsbury can file a grievance against this initiative. If the two sides can't come to an agreement, then it will go to an independent arbitrator to be resolved.
After signing a seven-year, $153 million dollar deal with the Yankees, Ellsbury only appeared in four seasons for the team, finishing with slashes of .264/.330/.386.
Despite a rocky tenure with the Yankees, the 36-year-old still wants to return to the game and is reportedly looking to make a comeback next season.
