I am not asserting that they have time to figure it out, nor I am I in agreement that if he continues to perform at this level that they will not sign him long term. Quite the contrary. I think he is a star and that this is his breakout season. Further, I think they will sign him when he is eligible for Free Agency. They do have one more year of arbitration before they have to commit long term money to him. I would use the safety net of arbitration, because I am averse to long term deals. That being said, I think Ellsbury is a star, and I would never trade an every day star player for any pitcher.