FORT MYERS, Fla. — Outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury will have to beat out Coco Crisp to become the team’s starting center fielder, but Ellsbury won’t shrink from the competition. In fact, he welcomes it.

“We’re all fighting for jobs,” said Ellsbury, noting that he’s had to compete for playing time in high school, college and the minor leagues. “These are the best players in the world. You just have to be ready for it.”

Ellsbury, who hit .353 in 33 games with the Sox, scoring 20 runs and stealing nine bases, said he worked hard in the offseason, but couldn’t stake a claim to the starting spot.

“It’s their decision,” he said. “I’ll respect it either way. Whatever’s best for the team.”

Ellsbury said he had “the utmost respect” for Crisp and thanked his teammate for helping to acclimate him to the big leagues last year.

Manager Terry Francona said he didn’t anticipate any ill will between the two during the competition.

“It’s our responsibility to handle this and be positive,” said Francona. “Our job is to make things work. There may be some disappointment [for the player who loses out], but we’ll handle that.”

Around the bases

David Ortiz arrived in camp yesterday and took some swings in the batting cage. He said his surgically repaired right knee is nearly 100 percent. … In mid-afternoon, Mike Lowell dropped off some equipment at the complex. … Chairman Tom Werner arrived in camp and remarked on the achievement of two World Series wins in five seasons since the team’s ownership changed. “It does seem surreal. I do remember in our first press conference we said we wanted to win multiple championships and people laughed at us. I think it’s been such a great experience being involved in this and I have a lot of confidence we’re going to be competitive this year and in the future. It’s great for us and great for our fans.”…Werner reported that the two regular-season games in Tokyo against Oakland on March 25-26 are already sold out, as is the exhibition game to be played in the Los Angeles Coliseum against the Dodgers on March 29. Some 90,000 tickets have been sold for that and the Dodgers are contemplating ways to add additional seats to boost the crowd to 100,000.

smcadam@projo.com