2 Jacoby Ellsbury, CF

Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington hinted Thursday during a radio interview with WEEI the team probably won't engage in contract talks with outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury until after the season. Ellsbury is eligible for free agency in the offseason.

"It’s just, in this case, we agreed before the season that we would defer (contract negotiations) until the end of the season," Cherington said. "That’s our expectation right now. You never say never. Things can change. But our expectation is we pick up the conversation after the season.”

Red Sox manager John Farrell admitted Tuesday slumping outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury probably would be moved out of the leadoff spot if Shane Victorino (hamstring) was healthy. As it is, Ellsbury will continue to get the chance to get on track atop the lineup.

"We’re sticking with (Ellsbury) to hopefully give him the opportunity to come out of the situation that he’s in right now," Farrell said, per The Boston Herald. "But I can say this: Whether he’s hitting first or whether he’s hitting somewhere else in the lineup, there are still things that we need to address, that he needs to address, and those are ongoing."

Ellsbury hasn't had a multi-hit game in 15 starts and is batting .143 (9 for 63) in that span, dropping his average from .290 to .242.

"It’s inconsistent timing at the plate right now, whether it’s four ground balls to second base or whether it’s three line drives to third base," Farrell said. "This isn’t a matter of effort. It’s a matter of maybe being a little bit more free of mind and letting that natural ability take over."

The threat of his impending free agency could be negatively affecting Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, according to the Boston Herald.

Ellsbury is hitting just .241/.303/.335 in 191 at-bats in the final year of his contract. Neither Shane Victorino nor manager John Farrell believes free agency has any impact on Ellsbury's stat line, and Farrell is not going to drop Ellsbury from the leadoff spot. 

Victorino indicated he believes Ellbury will turn things around "He’s really not doing that bad. To be where he’s at right now, he hasn’t put himself in a hole," the outfielder said. 

Mike Napoli admitted there is some extra pressure on players during their walk seasons. "It was more all the outside people. Your family, your friends, they’re like, ‘Hey, you’ve got to have a big year this year.'"

Ellsbury will have a chance to turn things around against White Sox starter Jose Quintana Tuesday. 

The Red Sox gave outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury a rest Sunday in Minnesota. Ellsbury had played every inning of every game until Sunday, the Boston Globe reports. 

Manager John Farrell wanted to get all the regulars a day off on the road trip. Shane Victorino led off and started in center field. 

Ellsbury is in a bit of a funk. He's gone 8 for 56 (.143) over his last 13 games with two extra-base hits, two RBI, a stolen base and six strikeouts. 

Red Sox president and CEO Larry Lucchino said Thursday he's been a bit "surprised" by outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury's slow start. Ellsbury enters play Thursday at Tampa Bay mired in a 6-for-41 slump, dropping his season average to .256.

"I’m a little surprised at the start Jacoby’s gotten off to. But once again -- and I’m sorry to resort to this cliche all the time -- it is only mid-May," Lucchino said. "I haven’t lost faith in Jacoby Ellsbury. We are a different team when he is hitting and running and playing defense the way he is capable of playing. You’re not going to hear me say anything very critical of Jacoby Ellsbury. I love this team when he is hitting and playing on all cylinders."