Yankees, Jacoby Ellsbury agree to seven-year deal

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com is reporting that the Yankees are closing in on signing Jacoby Ellsbury to a seven-year deal. Mark Feinsand of the NY Daily News says that the deal will be worth $153 million over seven-years. The deal also includes an eighth-year option that would bring the total to $169 million, reports MLB.com's Bryan Hoch.

The deal is still pending a physical, which will take place within the next day or two.

Reports at the beginning of the offseason said that the Yankees were planning a $300 million spending spree this winter, and they weren't lying. After signing Brian McCann to an $85 million deal, and now Ellsbury, the Yanks still believe they have enough room to re-sign Robinson Cano, and maybe even get one starting pitcher.

Ellsbury is the second player of the defending champion Boston Red Sox to leave today after Jarrod Saltalamacchia reportedly signed a three-year $21 million deal with the Miami Marlins.

The Yankees had been in talks with Scott Boras, who represents both Ellsbury and free-agent outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, about both of the outfielders, but the Yankees preferred Ellsbury over Choo, says Joel Sherman of the NY Post.

Ellsbury, who hit .298 with 9 HR and 53 RBI in 2013 with the Red Sox, will provide more speed at the top of the lineup, and he'll slide right into the outfield, most likely center field with Brett Gardner moving to left field -- the Yankees also have no plans to trade Gardner -- and he'll be replacing Curtis Granderson, who is currently a free-agent.

The Yankees had been keeping a close eye on free-agent outfielder Carlos Beltran, too, but it was reported earlier today by ESPN's Buster Olney that Beltran had a three-year, $48 million deal on the table, likely from the Kansas City Royals. The Bombers had been trying to stay away from adding a third year, sticking to two years with him.

Follow @GavinEwbank2013 Tweet