It wouldn't be a Yankees offseason without Jacoby Ellsbury's future in question.

While the search for a manager will dominate baseball conversation in the Bronx for the next few weeks, the rest of the sport won't wait to conduct business. For general manager Brian Cashman and the Yankees front office, that means double-duty may have to commence in early November: Finalize a deal for a skipper and work the phones at the start of hot-stove season.

When player movement begins, Ellsbury's name will surely be in rumors. With four outfielders (Brett Gardner, Aaron Hicks, Aaron Judge and Clint Frazier) all capable of producing at a high level next season, Ellsbury doesn't fit as an expensive fifth man in a four-man rotation.

According to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, the Yankees will shop Ellsbury--with the Seattle Mariners looming as a team many think would make sense for the 34-year-old.

Look for the Yankees to shop Jacoby Ellsbury after a disappointing season in which he sat in the ALCS while Aaron Hicks, who slumped badly, played. The Yankees would have to offset much of the contract. But they are trying to get below the $195 million mark, have a surplus of outfielders and believe Ellsbury might do better with a change of scenery. He actually had a nice second half after returning following a concussion suffered while crashing into the center-field wall, but he still finished with a .264/.348/.402 slash line, which was still below average for an outfielder, and below his career norm. (In fact, in none of his four years in New York has he reached his .760 career OPS.) Ellsbury has three years to go on his $153 million, seven-year deal, so there would have to be a significant paydown to facilitate a deal. Some have always envisioned Ellsbury going home to play in Seattle, which could use an outfielder but is not believed to have a lot of money in its budget.

If the Yankees help pay down the $68.4M guaranteed left on Ellsbury's deal, perhaps a deal could commence.

In 112 games in 2017, Ellsbury posted a .750 OPS--his best in four years in New York.

Joe Giglio may be reached at jgiglio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeGiglioSports. Find NJ.com on Facebook.