Yankees Officially Inform Players Union They Don't Intend to Pay Jacoby Ellsbury in 2020
By Sean Facey
The New York Yankees and the MLB Players Union seem just about ready to go to war over the curious case of Jacoby Ellsbury.
On Friday, the Yankees officially informed the MLBPA that they have no intention of paying their former outfielder any of the money he's owed for the 2020 season.
The #Yankees informed the union today that they do not intend to pay Ellsbury in 2020. Earlier report from @GeorgeAKingIII said NYY are attempting to money owed Ellsbury because he used an outside facility to rehabilitate injuries that kept him off the field the past two seasons.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 22, 2019
Ellsbury reportedly received unauthorized treatment for injuries he was dealing with during his time with the team, and the Yankees cited this as the grounds for their grievance against him.
According to Ken Rosenthal, their pursuit of the money is justified, at least by the book. The current Collective Bargaining Agreement states that treatment outside of that provided by the team "must be authorized by the Club in advance of the treatment in accordance with Regulation 2 of the (Uniform Players Contract).”
Regarding Ellsbury: CBA states, “Any treatment a Player receives for a Work-Related Injury by a health care provider who is not affiliated with the Club must be authorized by the Club in advance of the treatment in accordance with Regulation 2 of the (Uniform Players Contract).”
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 22, 2019
There have also been rumblings that Ellsbury's outside treatment could have involved steroid usage, something that only further incriminates the former All-Star.
If the Yankees get their way, it would truly be a double-edged sword. Yes, they'd free up a large chunk of money for the 2020 season, but in doing so they may scare off any prospective free agents, regardless of how valid their argument is.