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« Odds & Ends: Griffey, Podsednik, Valentine | Main | Discussion: What's Next For The Red Sox? »
Jason Bay Talks About "Uneasy" Future
WEEI.com's Alex Speier has Jason Bay's thoughts on his future in Boston, following today's loss to the Angels.
Bay and Matt Holliday will be heading the free agent class for left fielders, but Bay's destinations may be limited, as he says there aren't many other places he'd play.
This will be Bay's first venture into the open market, making him a bit uneasy about the process. It's been speculated that he'll receive a four or five year deal at as much as $15MM per season.
Bay made it clear that he would love to return to Boston, and described the thought of potentially playing his last home game in Fenway Park as "very weird." He had nothing but positive things to say about his time with the Red Sox:
“It’s very weird for me…This is uncharted for me. It’s a little uneasy,” said Bay. “I’ve loved every minute [of playing in Boston]. It’s been my quickest year and a half in the big leagues…The whole experience has been very, very positive. That makes it tough [about an uncertain future].”
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Well, Jason, it seems to me you have two choices. Accept what the Red Sox offer or go and see what the Yanks will give you. But isn't that pretty much the theme every off season?
Posted by: OmegaMan | October 11, 2009 at 04:50 PM
Bay goes back to the Red Sox, Holliday signs with the (once again) over-paying Giants, Cardinals resign DeRosa to save face, immediately regret decision.
Posted by: GScott | October 11, 2009 at 04:52 PM
I wonder if the Braves still having that Bay jersey sitting around somewhere
Posted by: SunKing1056 | October 11, 2009 at 04:54 PM
With either Tim Hudson's $$$ coming off of the books (or, better yet - they unload Lowe on someone) then the Braves could very well get in on the Bay sweepstakes. The Braves desperately need a power hitting RH left fielder....Bay is just want they need.
Posted by: BravesAllTheWay | October 11, 2009 at 05:12 PM
I certainly hope the Sox hang onto Bay and solve their issues at SS. They haven't looked set at short since Nomar got traded.
Now, about that DH...
Posted by: peterherman | October 11, 2009 at 05:19 PM
GScott:
I seriously doubt the Giants will sign Holliday. With Sabean GM'ing for his job this time around, he's going to be scared to make any big signing. I would probably expect a series of little moves rather than one big one. That being said, another reason they won't be able to sign Holliday or Bay is because of the ridiculous amount of Arb the Giants players are going to get. Lincecum is due for a FAT payday and Brian Wilson and Jonathan Sanchez are going to get decent chunks of dough as well.
Posted by: Giantsguy1987 | October 11, 2009 at 05:21 PM
Sorry Braves fan, but there is no way you guys get Jason Bay. It's either the Red Sox or the Yankees. The Red Sox will definetly offer him whatever the Braves would, and all things equal he would stay in Boston. The only chance he's not in Boston next year is if the Yankees throw crazy money or years at him. While I don't think they will, it is always a possibility. The Red Sox will overpay to keep Bay, if no other reason then they have to. There aren't many other options, they have tons of money to spend, and they need to sign Bay and add another bat IMO. Time for Lowell to go, move Youk to third full time, and trade a huge package for Adrian Gonzalez.
Posted by: brian91388 | October 11, 2009 at 05:22 PM
could be an alternative to Holliday in STL
Posted by: cardinalsnation4 | October 11, 2009 at 05:27 PM
If any team gives him 15 mil a year over 4 or 5 years, they are making a big mistake. The guy has become very bad defensivley, and he saw his strikeouts raise with a big decrease in average and only a slight inprovement in power. The deal may look decent for the 1st season, maybe the 2nd even, but after that Bay looks like the guy who will have a big, big decline.
Posted by: R y a n | October 11, 2009 at 05:27 PM
As much as I would love to have Bay or Holliday hitting between Chipper and BMac it just didn't make much sense unless we can unload Lowe or ownership raises salary considerably. Going with pitching and defense is how the Braves should win and how Wren has said they will win.
Posted by: bbxxj | October 11, 2009 at 05:30 PM
At this point, the Red Sox can't really play hardball and pit Holliday (the better player) against Bay to induce a sweetheart deal because there will be several desperate suitors for each. That said, Bay hit like Yuniesky Betancourt for two consecutive months and is one of the worst fielders at his position. If the Red Sox are going to overpay for a LFer, I'd rather they throw the money at Holliday.
Posted by: DunkinDonuts | October 11, 2009 at 05:40 PM
I think Bay appeals to Yanks. No need to commit that kind of money just to go from a 245 hr hitting team to a 265 hr hitting team. Yanks either make a move to improve their LF defense or simply stay with Damon as a DH/LF with Cabrera, Gardner and maybe Austin Jackson spending time in LF and CF.
As for Boston. You are a formidable foe. Going out 0-3 sucks. See you in April 2010.
Posted by: YanksFanSince78 | October 11, 2009 at 05:42 PM
the teams that will be in on bay OR holliday will be the sox,yanks,mets,maybe giants,cards. the braves will be the so called secret team in the mix
Posted by: tntnhhs | October 11, 2009 at 05:55 PM
I hope the Red Sox go for Holliday before Bay. Bay's bad defense detracts a lot from his value (-13.9 UZR this year, 3.4 WAR) and the money it takes to sign him will be more than he's worth. Holliday can be had for a similar contract and will be worth more for longer.
Also I don't think it's an automatic that the Yankees make big plays for either guy. They can have Damon back much more easily and he fits better with their left-handers-hitting-lazy-fly-balls-that-find-their-way-into-the-right-field-bleachers strategy.
Posted by: Alex Riley | October 11, 2009 at 06:02 PM
Don't know about that, Alex. Holliday/Boras is aiming for $18M for 5-6, and isn't worth that. J.Bay is a known commodity in Boston. We KNOW he will hit .270/ 35/ 100/ 100/.900, and that his defense and clubhouse presence are better than his predecessor's. I'm betting a 4+1/$65 - 70, equivalent to JD Drew ($14MM) , who had a great Aug., Sept, Oct and is one of the best fielding and hitting RF in the game.
Posted by: gerald troy | October 11, 2009 at 06:34 PM
Mets will be in on Bay and Holiday!
Posted by: bjhaas1977 | October 11, 2009 at 08:04 PM
I think the Sox resign Bay to the type of contract several have predicted ($14-15MM/year for 4 years, but probably not an option for a 5th year), and as much as I like Bay, I must agree he is not worth that much. But I'm not convinced Holliday would be much better. The defensive stats that many quote indicate a huge difference between these two, and I don't understand why. I've never seen Bay make an error and I have seen Holliday make a few real bloopers, but I know there's more to it than that. Anyway, Holliday will likely demand 1 more year and $3-4MM/year more than Bay, and I don't see that much difference between them.
Posted by: RedSoxBob | October 11, 2009 at 08:05 PM
I think it's pretty clear that Holliday CAN NOT hang in the AL let alone the AL East. He needs to stay in the NL if he has half a brain. I am sure he could hit at Fenway but not against some of the stop starters. I'll take Jason Bay please.
Posted by: GreenMachine | October 11, 2009 at 09:26 PM
Bay to ATL is very unrealistic, but it's very fun to think about what he could bring to our lineup as well.
Posted by: WS2009 | October 11, 2009 at 09:33 PM
You've never seen Bay make an error because he can barely get to the ball. He has absolutely no range.
Holliday has averaged 5.9 WAR over the last 2 seasons and will be underpaid at $18MM. Bay has averaged 3.2 and will be getting around fair value at $14MM. Ok, he's known to the organization, but Holliday is simply a better player, he's a stand-up guy, and more deserving of our attention if we're in the business of signing a multi-year deal for $14-18MM per year.
Posted by: Alex Riley | October 11, 2009 at 09:34 PM
I understand the arguement about NL pitchers not performing as well in the AL East. However, with NL hitters I don't think it's so much about the NL vs the AL East as much as it is familiarity. Holliday would probably do very well hitting in Fenway, NYS, Camden Yard, Progressive Field, etc. I just think Holliday would prefer the St. Louis because he's more familiar with NL pitchers AND the chance to hit with Pujols.
Posted by: YanksFanSince78 | October 11, 2009 at 11:40 PM
"Sorry Braves fan, but there is no way you guys get Jason Bay. It's either the Red Sox or the Yankees. "
Don't forget the Mariners. Bay is from the Pacific Northwest...
Posted by: notin | October 12, 2009 at 06:13 AM
Red Sox should try for Bay and HOlliday...moving Drew to dh...move Youk to third..Vmart to first.resign Gonzalez ...let go of Mike Lowell and ortiz at best deal can be made. Sign a catcher who can play defense and throw!!! trade Pop for best deal available.sign wagner to work with Bard......
Posted by: lindy888 | October 12, 2009 at 08:44 AM
"You've never seen Bay make an error because he can barely get to the ball. He has absolutely no range." - Alex Riley
Are you seriously comparing Jason Bay's fielding to Matt "Buckner" Holliday's like it means something?
Posted by: A | October 12, 2009 at 08:56 AM
i think the mets will definetly sign bay or holliday
Posted by: mets rock PHILLIES SUCK BALLS | October 12, 2009 at 10:02 AM
i think the mets will definetly sign bay or holliday
Posted by: mets rock PHILLIES SUCK BALLS | October 12, 2009 at 10:02 AM
"Are you seriously comparing Jason Bay's fielding to Matt "Buckner" Holliday's like it means something"
Not saying that Bay was any kind of good fielder at Fenway or anything, but really.. How many Sox fans saw Jim Rice and Manny Ramirez butcher LF at Fenway for a combined 20 years? Granted, Yaz finally taught Rice how to read balls coming off of the wall, but Rice was always out of position in LF and got some of the slowest jumps I ever saw and he played DEEP to avoid having to move back on the ball.. Compared to both Rice and Ramirez, Bay was almost "GG" and that is being serious, but yeah, Greenwell was better in left and of course Yaz.
Posted by: johns | October 12, 2009 at 10:56 AM
There is no question in my mind that Jason Bay will not be playing for the Red Sox next year. He will go to the team that offers him the most money. So yeah he will be a Yankee.
Posted by: BostonsFuture | October 12, 2009 at 01:11 PM
Ummm....no, I seriously doubt the Yanks are going to go after Bay. They just don't need him.
Posted by: YanksFanSince78 | October 12, 2009 at 01:37 PM
I love how on every post there is at least one person always chiming in about how the mets are going to pick up X player for X amout of dollars. The mets have an amazing roster, with two problems 1) In 2009 every regualr everyday player hit the DL, can't fix bad luck (ask any cubs fan). 2) after Santana they have nothing as far as Starting pitching goes. So as far as picking up either Bay or Holliday I think that money can be spent much more productively.
Posted by: BleedOrange | October 12, 2009 at 03:13 PM
Holliday makes goofy errors occasionally. Bay has no range at all times. If you go by the aggregate data and not your own perceptions, it's obvious who is a better fielder and better player. Holliday.
Posted by: Alex Riley | October 12, 2009 at 05:07 PM
while I dont think either Bay or Holliday is worth 18m per year, I think the sox will have to get one of them..Im hoping closer to 14-15mil per which is still overoaying but..it is what it is..
Posted by: chowdah | October 13, 2009 at 09:41 AM
Jason Bay will end up with a 5 year contract that will pay him $16 mil the 1st year and will go up a mil each year. I know a lot of you doubt this but wait and see.
Posted by: bayday999 | October 21, 2009 at 03:04 AM