ELLS-BURIED ON BENCH

The words that came out of Girardi’s mouth weren’t the ringing endorsement you would expect to hear regarding a player the Yankees are paying more than $21 million this season.

But that is the world outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury finds himself in now — on the lowest rung of the Yankee outfield depth chart.

“There’s going to be days that (Ellsbury) is going to start. I told him I’ll let him know and prepare him for those days,” said Girardi of Ellsbury. “I could use him off of the bench to pinch run and do a lot of those things. But right now he’s kind of in that role of a fourth outfielder. But he is going to play.”

Clint Frazier, the 22-year-old stud outfield prospect acquired last year at the trade deadline from Cleveland, has vaulted over Ellsbury for playing time in the last three weeks. He’s making the league minimum of $535,000. During the weekend series in Seattle, Ellsbury was used in the final two games as a pinch runner only and already in July Girardi has left Ellsbury on the bench for four games.

Girardi said that he had spoken to Ellsbury before the series opener with Cincinnati about the veteran’s reduced role. Outfielder Aaron Hicks has yet to come off the DL, but when he returns, Frazier could be sent to the minors again, and perhaps Ellsbury could see more playing time.

“I’ll be ready when my name’s called,” Ellsbury told reporters after batting practice. Ellsbury, 33, already missed 29 games earlier this season when he suffered a concussion making a leaping catch at the Stadium against the Royals May 24. He is still owed over $63 million in guaranteed money through the 2020 season.