Red Sox Rumors: Bay, Penny, Buchholz

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 in a much different economic climate."
• Nick Cafardo of the Globe discusses Brad Penny, "one of the most valuable chips in the game."  Penny figures to be one of the five best available starting pitchers available this July, unless the Sox decide they'd rather maintain the depth.  While he cannot be traded without his consent until June 15th, ESPN's Buster Olney figures he would not stand in the way of a trade.  Olney says the Red Sox want a good prospect in return and expects a deal sooner rather than later.
• How about Clay Buchholz, currently stuck in Triple A?  He took a perfect game into the ninth inning yesterday according to Amalie Benjamin of the Globe.  The 24 year-old needs to be in the Majors, given his 1.30 ERA and 49:12 K/BB ratio in 48.3 innings.  However, the Red Sox have to activate John Smoltz by June 19th.