While terms of the deal were not disclosed, Ellsbury made $449,500 in 2009.
After the 2010 season, Ellsbury, 26, enters the first of his three arbitration years. This is about the time when general manager Theo Epstein likes to lock down long-term contracts on such franchise cornerstones. Ellsbury seems open to such a scenario.
“I’m going to play this year. When the Red Sox talk with my agent, I guess that’s when that ball starts rolling,” Ellsbury recently told reporters in Florida. “I think it’s fine [that there have been no long-term talks]. I’d like to get one more year under my belt, but if they come with something tomorrow, then it’s a totally different ballgame.”
Epstein has never gone to arbitration in his nearly eight years at the helm. Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia and Jon Lester are among those who signed long-term deals before the arbitration years kicked in.
Lester’s five-year, $30-million deal was finalized a year ago this month when he had almost the exact same amount of major league service that Ellsbury does now. The same goes for Pedroia, who inked a six-year, $40.5-million contract in December 2008.
Jonathan Papelbon is the one young Red Sox star who is seemingly intent on taking it one year at a time and potentially hitting the free agent market after next season. He avoided arbitration with a one-year, $9.35-million contract signed in January.
Boston’s roster currently stands at 39 players. Among the other 12 agreeing to terms Monday were Clay Buchholz, Daniel Bard, Michael Bowden and Jed Lowrie.
Buchholz will be eligible for arbitration after the 2011 season.
