Jacoby looking for place in crowded OF

TAMPA — Jacoby Ellsbury checked into Yankees camp Sunday morning at George M. Steinbrenner Field and didn’t notice an Opening Day lineup card posted without his name.

Standing in front of his locker, Ellsbury said all the right things when peppered with questions about where he fits into a Yankees’ outfield that was crowded even before Giancarlo Stanton was acquired from the Marlins in December.

And while general manager Brian Cashman said during the offseason the center-field job is Aaron Hicks’ to lose, Ellsbury politely — and correctly — stated there is time to win back his old job.

“Every year you come in and compete. Never one year has the lineup been made already in my 10 years in the big leagues,’’ the 34-year-old Ellsbury said following a physical. “Everyone comes in and works hard. There is not a lineup card made up yet. That’s how I look at it.’’

With three years and $68.5 million remaining on the seven- year contract worth $153 million with a blanket no-trade clause, Ellsbury is viewed by many as untradeable. He said Sunday the Yankees haven’t asked him to waive the no-trade and that he loves playing in The Bronx.

Asked if his desire to play for the Yankees has changed because the opportunity for playing time could be reduced from a year ago when Ellsbury didn’t start a game in center field (though received three starts at DH) during the postseason, Ellsbury answered it two ways.

“I love playing here, so, I will leave it at that,’’ he said.

The question is how much of a chance will Ellsbury get to play?

Hicks, who was on the disabled list twice a year ago, took over for Ellsbury in center field when he went on the DL with a concussion on May 24. Initially, Hicks thrived as the everyday starter in center but was shelved with a strained right oblique from June 26 to Aug. 10, and from Sept. 3-25 with a left oblique strain.

After returning on June 26, Ellsbury hit .181 with a . 280 on- base percentage in 31 games with Hicks on the DL. Ellsbury’s second stint filling in for Hicks went much better and played a part in the Yankees chasing the Red Sox until the final week of the regular season for the AL East title. In 21 games from Sept. 3-25 he hit .353 with a .463 on-base percentage.

Ellsbury reiterated it’s too early to start thinking about where he fits.

“In the offseason you prepare to be the best possible player you can,’’ Ellsbury explained. “We haven’t even had Day 1 yet.’’