Jason Bay Rumors
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [July 14, 2009 at 10:14am CST]
Some links to look through on the morning of the Midsummer Classic... This week's chat will take place today at 2pm CST. MLB.com's Mychael Urban keeps hearing about a possible deal that would send Matt Holliday, Orlando Cabrera and salary relief to the Braves for Yunel Escobar and prospects. The Giants released Keiichi Yabu yesterday, according to the Kyodo News. He had been pitching in Triple A. Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post says Albert Pujols belongs with the elite players in baseball history. John Tomase of the Boston Herald says the Red Sox still aren't talking with Jason Bay...
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By Ben Nicholson-Smith [July 9, 2009 at 9:39am CST]
Any team with serious plans to acquire Roy Halladay cannot approach the Blue Jays with a list of untouchable players, as ESPN.com's Buster Olney points out. Here are the details: If the Phillies want Halladay, they'll have to be prepared to discuss players like Michael Taylor, Dominic Brown, Kyle Drabek and Jason Knapp. The Nats have a powerful young catcher in SIngle A. Derek Norris has already clubbed 20 homers, one for every year he's been alive. If Jason Bay signs a contract extension early, he'll determine how much Matt Holliday receives on the open market after the season. Bay's...
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By Nat Boyle [June 28, 2009 at 10:00am CST]
The Boston Globe has posted a few notes today from Amalie Benjamin and Tony Massarotti. Massarotti says that between Daisuke Matsuzaka on the DL, the age John Smoltz (42) and Tim Wakefield (43), and not knowing how much Clay Buchholz can contribute, Brad Penny is "more valuable to the Red Sox than people may think" and there shouldn't be any urge to move him. Massarotti quotes Terry Francona, "We didn't sign him to trade him. We signed him to win. He’s worked hard. I only think it’s going to continue to get better." While Jason Bay isn't concerned about getting...
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By Eddie Schmid [June 27, 2009 at 6:51pm CST]
On this day in MLBTR history: Last year, the spotlight was on the potential landing spot for CC Sabathia, and the Astros were one of 12 teams interested in Freddy Garcia. My how times have changed. Some links to sate you in between games, with more to come: Ian Browne at MLBlogs talked to Jason Bay, who isn't overly concerned with discussing a contract extension with the Red Sox at the moment. According to Scott Merkin at MLB.com, the White Sox inked catcher Josh Phegley, their 38th selection in this month's draft, as well as five others. Eric Seidman at...
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By Ben Nicholson-Smith [June 22, 2009 at 12:20pm CST]
We know that the Braves and Rays almost acquired Jason Bay from the Pirates at last year's trade deadline. Rob Bradford of WEEI.com has some specifics on who the Pirates would have received in return and just how close the Braves came to completing the deal: The Braves would have sent Concepcion Rodriguez, Brent Lillibridge, Brandon Jones and Jeff Locke to the Pirates. Interestingly, Locke was eventually dealt to the Pirates for another All-Star outfielder, Nate McLouth. The Braves actually had Bay's name sewed onto a jersey. I wonder who has it now... Pirates president Frank Coonelly called the deal...
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By Ben Nicholson-Smith [June 15, 2009 at 3:05pm CST]
More links for the afternoon... Aaron Crow, the Royals' first round draft pick, told MLB.com's Rustin Dodd that this year, he's focused on completing a deal and beginning to play. Last year, he was drafted by the Nationals, but didn't sign. Mike Hazen, the Red Sox Director of Player Personnel, told CMSB Media that the team has already begun working on the 2010 draft. Click the link to hear the entire interview. The most intriguing name in next year's draft class could be Bryce Harper. Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star says Harper should finish high school early if...
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By Mike Axisa [June 13, 2009 at 9:30am CST]
The Boston Globe's Adam Kilgore reports that the Red Sox have yet to resume talks about a contract extension with outfielder Jason Bay. "There's nothing new," Bay said yesterday. "There's really nothing to say about it. It's been a hot topic. I understand that. Until there's something to say, there's nothing to say." "There's still a lot of time left, plus there was some real bad timing with the draft, all the time leading up to it," Bay said. "I understand whether it happens or not, but now is not a great time. Maybe when things settle down. But like...
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By Ben Nicholson-Smith [June 5, 2009 at 1:27pm CST]
Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports that Jason Bay's focusing on baseball for now and sorting out his next contract after the season, when he becomes a free agent. Any number of teams could go after Bay. After all, his OPS is over 1.000 and he's second in the league in both homers and RBI. He'll be 31 when the season ends, so he should have several productive years left. He may be able to command as much as $70MM for five years, as J.D. Drew did. Morosi considers three possible suitors for Bay: The Red Sox don't have...
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By Ben Nicholson-Smith [June 1, 2009 at 10:37am CST]
ESPN.com's Buster Olney writes that there's a chance no player will sign a contract longer than four years during the coming offseason. Here's a handful of the many predictions he makes about baseball's next class of free agent talent. Matt Holliday, whose power numbers are pedestrian so far, is in position for a deal worth three years and $30-35MM. Not much when you consider many expected him to sign for over $100MM, but he and Scott Boras still have four months to change the perception that Holliday needs Coors Field. Since Aubrey Huff's hitting cleanup in a good lineup, his...
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By Tim Dierkes [May 26, 2009 at 10:26am CST]
We have several Red Sox situations up for discussion today. Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe writes of Jason Bay's superstar performance in Boston. Bay has a .292/.393/.569 line in 407 plate appearances in his Red Sox career. By comparison, J.D. Drew has a .274/.388/.470 line in 1166 plate appearances spread over 2.28 seasons in Boston. Says Massarotti: "If and when the time comes, the Red Sox may have a hard time denying Bay the $14 million average they paid Drew -- this is one of the more damning aspects of the Drew deal -- though that deal was signed...
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