One of the biggest worries of the offseason has been resolved in a quiet way. According to MLB Trade Rumors Ben Nicholson-Smith, Jacoby Ellsbury has been signed to a one year deal worth a little over eight million dollars. Ellsbury had a career year in 2011, as he hit for .321, drove in 105 runs and became the first member of the Red Sox to have a 30/30 season. He finished second in the MVP race behind Tigers P Justin Verlander.
This avoids what could've been a messy arbitration hearing as Ellsbury's agent Scott Boras always goes for top dollar and the Red Sox trying to avoid the luxury tax. It's a great price for the Sox if Ellsbury comes anywhere close to his production last season. If he somehow manages to maintain the production in 2012, the process will get drawn out and has the highest potential to reach the arbitraitor, something that hasn't happened since Dan Duquette was the GM.
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