Losing Ellsbury would kill the sport's greatest trio

With their game 6 win last week, the Boston Red Sox have solidified themselves as the best organization of the past decade. Titles in 2004, 2007 and 2013 have made the once cursed boys of Beantown the crown jewel of Major League Baseball.

Outside of the Yankees of the 90’s, no team has been as dominant in this era of baseball. Case in point is one of, what I consider, the most amazing stat of importance of this series: David Ortiz is the first non-Yankee to win 3 titles with the same team since Jim Palmer did so with the Baltimore Orioles’ title in 1982.

But Ortiz isn’t alone as what I consider important consistent pieces. While the names and faces with the teams have changed from 2004 to 2007 and more so to 2013, there are three name that everyone can place with Boston’s championship aura: David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury.

Each of these teams has had their own identity, but this trio has been the constant. Ortiz is the lone Sox player from 2004 left on the roster and Pedroia and Ellsbury, both clutch hitters and exceptional fielders, were part of the 2007 team as well. Many may argue, but there is a very high likelihood that these three are the best non-pitching trio in the modern era of championship teams.

Life won't be the same without Pedroia, Ortiz and Ellsbury all together.

It is sad to me to know that the trio's era may be over. Ellsbury is the Red Sox free agent least likely to resign according to multiple sources. And his new qualifying offer from Boston is great, but I don't see it sticking.

In their 2007 championship season, a second year player in Pedroia, a rookie Ellsbury and Ortiz combined for 388 hits. This year, their second title together in sights, the trio totaled 525 hits, helping dominate the American League. When one wasn't on, the others picked up the slack. That came up big time in the World Series, when Ellsbury was mediocre and Pedroia was below average. So Ortiz simply redefined what being Mr. October was all about, swinging for the fences and making the “ace” Cardinal pitching staff look like Little League relief pitchers.

At 37, Ortiz doesn't have many years left in the tank, even if he does drive the ball just as well today as he did during the Red Sox first World Series run. But Pedroia and Ellsbury are only 29 each and if they stay together, with Ortiz for a few years and then whoever the great Boston front office replaces him with, they could add a few more titles easily.

Boston looked so much different in 2007 than they did in 2004, with so much turnover. And honestly, the turnover was great since that 2007 title to this year too. But losing Ellsbury, breaking up the foundation of this happy family, could be the biggest nail driven into the continuing of this legacy.