MLB: Jason Bay Signs With the Mets
The “Baywatch” saga has come to an end in New York as Jason Bay has agree to a guaranteed four year contract worth a reported $66 million that has a vesting option for a fifth year.
The agreement comes on the heels of reports last week indicating that Bay had no interest in playing for the Mets. The assumption was that Bay was holding out for an offer from the Angels or Mariners, who were rumored to be his top choice from day one. There were also rumors floating around the last few days that the Red Sox were toying with the idea of jumping back into the fray.
But it was always believed that if he got a five year deal he would sign on the dotted line. While he did not get the fifth guaranteed year he was looking for it is reported that the fifth year will kick in if he meets certain performance incentives believed to revolve around a minimal number of plate appearances.
After a disappointing season in which the Mets hit a meager 95 home runs, Daniel Murphy led the team with 12, in the maiden season of their new ballpark GM Omar Minaya made it a point to this off season to go out and get a bat to stick in the middle of the order.
Assuming Carlos Beltran and David Wright return to form next season the Mets should have a formidable heart of the order.
With the Bay deal wrapped up Minaya likely will turn his attention to rebuilding a starting rotation that featured just two 10-game winners and one pitcher throw over 170 innings last season. The Mets were rumored to be interested in John Lackey before he signed with Boston and are said to have a strong interest in Joel Piniero who won 15 games and posted a 3.49 ERA for the Cardinals last season.
Veterans Ben Sheets and Erik Bedard are still on the market and could probably be had for minimal incentive laden deals.
Now that Bay has signed for approx. $16 million per season, how does this affect the negotiations for Matt Holliday?
It gives teams a starting point to work with. It probably means whoever wants him is going to have to start at around $17/18 million per season and give him at least five years.
The fact that nobody else was stepping up to match or best the Mets offer for Bay makes me believe that nobody else is really bidding on Holliday either.