Fake news.

In one sentence, Mike Lupica is 100% wrong:

"If Masahiro Tanaka and Jacoby Ellsbury — more than $300 million in Yankees — are ever going to act as if they were really worth the money, now would be a good time."

1. Tanaka: 50-27, 3.54 ERA, 12.7 WAR. So he has already earned his salary for 3+ years, despite stumbling in his most recent start.
2. Ellsbury: .263/.327/.384, 39 HRs, 197 RBIs, 257 R, 97 stolen bases, 8.6 WAR. Average player who has been paid too much money.

But lately? If "now would be a good time," please note that Ellsbury:

• has hit safely in 16 of his last 17 games.
• is hitting .440/.517/.560 in September.
•  is hitting .333/.415/.526 with 2 HRs, 13 RBIs, and several "big hits" in the last 28 days.