When the Yankees signed Jacoby Ellsbury to a seven-year, $153 million contract before last season, they were paying to steal away from the Boston Red Sox the dynamic leadoff man who helped them win two World Series and nearly won a Most Valuable Player Award.
Part of the bargain, though, was paying for the other Ellsbury, the one who has a hard time staying healthy.
This season, the Yankees have gotten both versions.
Ellsbury and Brett Gardner have been catalysts for the Yankees’ offense. Ellsbury has a .412 on-base percentage, 14 stolen bases and 29 runs — placing him in the top three in the American League in each category — for an offense that has scored the most first-inning runs in baseball.