The Boston Red Sox currently find themselves in an undecided state with center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, reports Alex Speier of WEEI.com. Speier notes that while the Red Sox are unlikely to trade Ellsbury this winter, they are just as unlikely to agree to a long-term contract extension with the 28-year-old:

For the Red Sox, it’s a tantalizing thought -- particularly for next year. It is part of the reason why, according to sources familiar with the team’s thinking, the likelihood is that -- even if the team listens to proposals related to the center fielder this offseason, just as was the case at the trade deadline -- the Sox are unlikely to deal Ellsbury this winter.

But just as it is unlikely that the Sox will look to trade Ellsbury if they have any designs on contending next year, it is comparably unlikely that they will have substantive grounds for a long-term extension.

After his 2011 campaign that earned him a second-place finish in American League MVP voting, Ellsbury has only hit .268/.311/.376 with two home runs over 213 at-bats this season.

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Should the Red Sox trade Ellsbury or lock him up long-term?

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