TAMPA -- A day after Yankees owner Hal Stienbrenner called Jacoby Ellsbury a "great player," general manager Brian Cashman was asked how to get more out of the center fielder, who hasn't lived up to the $153-million contract he signed more than three years ago.
Rather than just reiterate that the Yankees want better production from Ellsbury, Cashman named a few players he believes could improve in 2017.
"I'm not going to single (Ellsbury) out because as I point to him, I'm pointing to (Michael) Pineda, (Starlin) Castro and Didi (Gregorius) amongst others that they have the ability, if you're still growing in the game like some of those guys are, there's benefits that still could be delivered and tapped into -- with Ellsbury as well," Cashman said, surrounded by reporters outside the clubhouse at George M.