The Baltimore Wire
Fansided

2016 AL East Rankings by Position: Center Field

By Nate Wardle

facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
Sep 18, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; New York Yankees center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury (22) misses a ball hit by New York Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy (28) in the eighth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; New York Yankees center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury (22) misses a ball hit by New York Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy (28) in the eighth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /

4. New York Yankees – Jacoby Ellsbury, Aaron Hicks, Mason Williams, Slade Heathcott

No one is going to tell you Jacoby Ellsbury had a good year in 2015. The highly-paid Yankee only played in 111 games, hitting .257/.318/.345 with 7 HRs, 15 2Bs, 33 RBIs and 66 runs. Now, Ellsbury has never really been a home run hitter. But, he only stole 21 bases and was caught nine times. The last time he was caught nine or more times, Ellsbury stole 35 bases that season. So, with the speed down, Ellsbury’s value went down.

Ellsbury is another guy who oddly enough rates badly defensively. This is despite not committing an error in 2016 and having the best career fielding percentage among CFs. Ellsbury has never been a player with a lot of range, and that is where he gets dinged by the metrics.

This year, if Ellsbury struggles greatly, Aaron Hicks just might supplant him. If nothing else, he will be able to give him a break to keep Ellsbury healthy and fresh. Williams has an outside chance at making the team, but his main position is CF.

Next: Will he put it together this year?

Home/Baltimore Orioles