News Flash: Ellsbury Works Out for MLB Combine

Just one day after his release by the New York Yankees, Jacoby Ellsbury emerged from seclusion to hold a tryout for other MLB teams' disabled lists.

Ellsbury had been largely ostracized after he was seen to "take a knee" during the playing of the national anthem a few years ago.  But since then, doctors have confirmed that Jacoby was not making a political statement, only collapsing under the impact of his many leg injuries.

Willing to give him another shot, scouts and executives from the other 29 MLB teams gathered at the Yankees' training complex outside Tampa, Florida, today, to see if Ellsbury could possibly make their disabled lists.

"Jacoby's a valued commodity," one general manager explained.  "You get a guy like this, guaranteed to stay on the DL for at least a whole season, and there's no telling what you can do.  Get Lloyd's to issue another insurance policy on him, use him as a write-off to basically wipe out your entire tax liability for the year.  The financial possibilities are unlimited."

Scouts watched as a squad of his personal trainers put Ellsbury through his paces, soaking in the whirlpool bath, getting a thorough massage and rubdown, and undergoing MRIs and X-rays on several different body parts.  Most came away impressed.

"You really think he wouldn't be up to it," one scout said, on condition of anonymity.  "Most guys who've spent that much time on the DL wrinkle up like a raisin, first time they set foot in a whirlpool again.  Others fall asleep on the trainer's table.  Not Jacoby.  Why, he grimaced enough to convince any insurance agent or tax auditor."

No decision has been made yet as to whether to sign Ellsbury.  But as they left for the airport, several MLB executives said they intended to come back for a second look at the former Yankee going through physical therapy routines and getting cortisone shots.

"If Jacoby hasn't played for this long," one pointed out, "there's no reason why he can't go on not playing indefinitely."