Boston Red Sox free agent outfielder Jason Bay was hoping to get a big pay day on the free agent market and have many teams competing for his services. Now it’s looking like the only place Bay could be playing is in Queens in 2010.
With the Seattle Mariners acquiring outfielder Milton Bradley from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for pitcher Carlos Silva, the Mariners seem likely to be out of the running for Bay. Although Red Sox GM Theo Epstein hasn’t officially closed the door, it’s highly unlikely he’ll be back in Beantown.
So where does that leave Bay?
Having rejected Boston’s final offer, it appears the only team with a contract offer out there is from the New York Mets at 4 years, $65 million. The Mets had been considering adding a fifth year and increase the offer to $75 million.
There’s no reason for the Mets to do that though now as Bay really has no leverage. There’d been reports that the San Francisco Giants were willing to offer Bay a five year contract but Bay wants no part of the Bay area.
If I’m Mets GM Omar Minaya, I stay pat with my 4 year offer. Considering the way things have gone, I’d expect that’s the best Bay will get.
