The "Ellsbury Effect"
With Jacoby Ellsbury coming back into the Red Sox line-up, I'm curious about how much money in t-shirt sales a fan favorite like him can bring a team. Even though he’s a Scott Boras client, Ells hasn’t even reached arbitration yet. His salary this year is only $496,500. A popular figure, especially with the ladies, Jacoby surely makes up his own worth in t-shirt sales alone. I’m guessing his jersey sales are even worth enough to pay the salaries of Kevin Youkilis, Dustis Pedroia, or Josh Beckett. When the Sox bid for Dice-K, they said that their $51 million bid number was based on their projected Japanese marketing capabilities for the first year of the star’s contract. What do these numbers for Jacoby Ellsbury look like? The “Ellsbury Effect” has got to bring the Sox front office large amounts of cash from t-shirt sales alone. I know there have been rumblings about discontent and a desire to trade him in the off season, but in addition to his gold glove caliber fielding talents, this kid has got to be a cash cow for John Henry and Co.
Baseball teams now operate like other businesses. Although I'd like to think that all decisions are based on batter’s box performance, I recognize that these days, batting average and on base percentage fit nicely into larger equations to analyze financial costs and benefits for the business. I really wonder what sort of money Ellsbury brings in compared to his contract with the team. Assuming he’s not a Manny-like poison in the locker room, plaguing team chemistry and brining everyone down with him, can the front office really spare Jacoby Ellsbury’s pretty face? When the Sox make their bids for Beltre’s next big contract, the pink #46 and #2 t-shirts that litter Fenway could be the difference in retaining the third base All Star.
Baseball teams now operate like other businesses. Although I'd like to think that all decisions are based on batter’s box performance, I recognize that these days, batting average and on base percentage fit nicely into larger equations to analyze financial costs and benefits for the business. I really wonder what sort of money Ellsbury brings in compared to his contract with the team. Assuming he’s not a Manny-like poison in the locker room, plaguing team chemistry and brining everyone down with him, can the front office really spare Jacoby Ellsbury’s pretty face? When the Sox make their bids for Beltre’s next big contract, the pink #46 and #2 t-shirts that litter Fenway could be the difference in retaining the third base All Star.
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