I have no doubt in my mind, had it not been for the lucrative insurance policy that the Yankees hold on Jacoby Ellsbury — that as long as he is unable to play due to injury, the team recoups $15.8 million on his $21.1 million salary per season — Ellsbury would have released this winter.
Although the 35-year-old outfielder missed the entire 2018 season because of a litany of injuries, he still counts for 10.93 percent of the Yankee payroll and is the third highest player on the club. Insurance policy or not, Ellsbury’s “dead money” directly influences the luxury tax.