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Jason Bay

Odds And Ends: Holliday, Yabu, Bay, Latos

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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 about an extension, but there are indications they may revisit his contract before the end of the season.
  • It looks like the Padres will promote their top pitching prospect, Mat Latos, according to MLB.com's Corey Brock.  
  • In the second part of my Q&A with NESN.com, I discuss Pedro Martinez, Clay Buchholz and the Mets. 

Olney On Halladay, Bay, Mulder

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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 older than Holliday, but he has 12 more homers and an OPS that's 100 points better than Holliday's, so he figures to sign for more.
  • The Mariners could think about extending Jarrod Washburn, Erik Bedard and Russell Branyan after the season if they don't trade them.  
  • Mark Mulder wants to pitch in the majors soon and he expects to begin auditioning for scouts in the next week or ten days.  

Red Sox Rumors: Penny, Bay, Lugo

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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 a contract done, Massarotti says the Sox "have every intention of revisiting talks with the outfielder before the end of the season, a baseball source has confirmed."
  • Amalie Benjamin suggests that Jed Lowrie's return could mark the end of the Julio Lugo era in Boston. Before yesterday, Lugo had not started since June 14, ceding time to Nick Green who is making $8.5MM less. According to Benjamin, "…the shortstop would be foolish not to prepare for the possibility of being released. The Sox would be on the hook for his salary, and he could be signed by any club for the league minimum."

Odds & Ends: White Sox, Bay, Lee

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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:

Jason Bay Was Nearly A Brave

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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 off since he wanted more major league talent in return.
  • Bay had no idea that he came so close to becoming a Brave and said he's happy to be in Boston.

Odds And Ends: Crow, Willis, Bay

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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 his "dream is to play pro ball, not flirt in homeroom."
  • Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press would like to see the Twins try to acquire Robb Quinlan from the Angels.
  • Steve Kornacki of MLive.com wonders whether the Tigers would release Dontrelle Willis and eat the remainder of this year's $10MM contract, plus the $12MM he's owed in 2010.
  • Brett Perryman of the Dallas Morning News says the Rangers' number one priority should be to prepare players within the organization to carry the Rangers to the playoffs in "2010 and on."
  • ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick says it's hard to imagine Jason Bay signing for less than $60MM over four years or $70MM over five.
  • Jeff Gordon includes Reggie Jackson, Orlando Hudson and David Ortiz on his list of the best ever free agent bargains at AskMen.com.
  • Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wonders what the Brewers will do with the slumping J.J. Hardy. 
  • MLB.com's Brian McTaggart reports that the Astros have signed 22 of the players they drafted, including their second rounder, Tanner Bushue.
  • MLB.com's Mark Sheldon has a corresponding list for the Reds, who also signed their second rounder.

Red Sox, Bay Yet To Resume Extension Talks

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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 I said, there's nothing exciting."

The two sides ended negotiations back in March, and since then all we've heard is that they still haven't talked. Bay is enjoying a tremendous season at the perfect time, hitting .280-.402-.587 in 264 plate appearances.

Jason Bay’s Next Contract

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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 an obvious player within their system who's ready to replace Bay, so Morosi says he'd be surprised if they don't resign him. Bay says Boston "is high on the list" of teams he'd want to sign with. 
  • The Yankees could be looking for corner outfield help this offseason, so it's not safe to rule them out.
  • The Mariners probably wouldn't outbid either the Yankees or the Red Sox, but Bay lives near Safeco Field in Seattle and he says it's one of his "possible destinations."

Olney On This Year’s Free Agents

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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 numbers figure to be strong enough for him to command a two-year deal (maybe even three).
  • Orlando Hudson's hot bat and spectacular glove make him a candidate for a three or four-year deal if he can continue producing at a similar rate.
  • Johnny Damon could ride "Coors Field East" to a decent contract, but at 36, he's unlikely to see offers longer than two years.
  • John Lackey's "likely to get the biggest deal of any free agent this winter" and could be the only player to sign for more than $50MM. Jason Bay would likely command over $50MM, I would think.  
  • Olney says it's unknown whether the Red Sox will bid three or four years on him and adds that the Yankees may not bid aggressively on Bay since they need room for Derek Jeter. 

   

Red Sox Rumors: Bay, Penny, Buchholz

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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.
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