MLB: Mets the Only Team Bidding on Jason Bay?
At one time it was believed that the Red Sox, Angels, Mariners, Mets, and potentially the Cardinals all had an interest in free agent left fielder Jason Bay. Now it appears the number of teams seriously pursuing Bay is down to just the Mets.
Once the Red Sox dripped serious money on John Lackey and signed Mike Cameron to a two year deal it became readily apparent that the Red Sox were willing to let Bay walk and move on with their lives. The Red Sox last known offer to Bay was for $60 million over four years.
With Vladimir Guerrero struggling to stay healthy last season and his numbers dipping significantly the last two years it was believed that the Angels were interested in Bay to plug in the lineup behind Bobby Abreu and Kendry Morales giving them some protection. The thought was that Bay would play left field while Juan Rivera would move to DH. The Angels are no longer believed to be in the hunt following their signing of Hideki Matsui to be the DH next season.
It has been believed for several weeks that the Mariners were the front runners to land Bay. The Mariners desperately need a thumper to plug into the middle of the lineup and Bay has ties to the Pacific Northwest having grown up in British Columbia and playing college ball at Gonzaga. Since the Mariners traded for Milton Bradley on Friday the speculation now is the Mariners are no longer interested in Bay. Bradley does not satisfy their need for a cleanup hitter though and given that they traded a comparable salary, Carlos Silva, for Bradley they may not be out of the mix entirely.
The Cardinals were only believed to have an interest in Bay if, or when, Matt Holliday signs with another team. As it is Holliday has yet to sign with anyone and St. Louis appears to be the only team with a significant offer on the table for Holliday. Until Holliday decides what he is going to do one should not expect the Cards to make any kind of an offer on Bay.
As it stands right now the Mets have the last known offer being made to Bay, reportedly $65 million over four years. The consensus seems to be that if the Mets were to tack on a fifth year Bay would sign today, however, it is believed that Mets GM Omar Minaya is not looking to spend more then $75 million on a corner outfielder and tacking on a fifth year would put them close $80 million. One begins to wonder if Bay would be amenable to $75 million over five years. It was believed, initially, that Bay turned down Boston’s initial offer due to the length and not the dollar amount.
If there is another team courting Jason Bay they are being very discreet about it and nobody seems to know who that team might be.
You have to wonder who seeds these rumors? The rumors where there are multiple teams in the bidding must be seeded by the agents just to gain leverage. Whereas the rumors where only one team is bidding has to be set by the team so they gain the leverage. Only in sports can you negotiate through the media. Imagine if the regular joe can go to a job interview, get an offer, come home, make a few calls and get that offer raised by 50%. You gotta love it!