So, it’s Happy New Year to Jason Bay on the New York Mets!
What? Does that make any sense? Assuming Bay passes his physical, the Mets will announce Bay’s arrival this week and I can’t believe how bizarrely Bay’s departure from the Red Sox played out.
Jason Bay is ending up with a four-year-contract that will pay him $66 million over four years with a vesting option for a fifth year. That is incredibly close to the four-year $60 million deal the Red Sox offered Bay last July. So, after all the speculation and talk, Bay goes to the Mets to earn six million additional dollars – and the “vesting option” - to play in a ballpark where he’ll not do nearly as well? This seems crazy – particularly when you consider that Bay’s departure leaves the Red Sox more desparate than ever for more hitting.
So, how the hell did this outcome ever happen? No one knows the truth yet. There has been talk that the Red Sox were very concerned about Bay’s health, (his shoulder and/or knee), but, no one has confirmed that’s what led to a breakdown in negotiations. I’ve heard the viewpoint that, at some point, the Red Sox sort of “soured” on Bay, or, that he soured on the Red Soxm but, again, nothing has been confirmed.
In the end, Bay will play in Citi Field, which is not a hitter’s ballpark and where he will not be able to take advantage of the Green Monster as he did frequently at Fenway. Bay is a terrific pull hitter who fit Fenway Park. I’ve read about how NY Met David Wright’s hitting declined dramatically in the Mets’ move from Shea Stadium to Citi Field. I predict Bay will not excell at Citi Field. He may do OK there, but, with the larger dimensions, I think his hitting will be closer to “average” than outstanding. His fielding was already “average” at Fenway and will likely remain so-so at Citi.
To me, Bay’s situation is typical of what happens to many free agents. They’re eager to test the market, understandably, but, sometimes they’re too influenced by their agents, and they lose perspective on what’s the most important to them — being happy playing baseball.
Jason Bay, by all accounts, was happy on the Red Sox. His teammatees liked and respected him. The fans liked him a lot. The media liked him. Then, after he got into negotiations, something went awry – perhaps over his health – and he started in the wrong direction. Then, other teams were not as interested in giving him a five-year deal or a four-year deal that was much higher than the Red Sox. In the end, right before he signed with the Mets, Bay’s agent was reportedly calling the Red Sox back, trying to see if they could resume talks after he had publicly written the Sox off a couple of weeks earlier. The Sox had, meanwhile, signed Mike Cameron as a new outfielder, meaning Bay’s old leftfield spot will be taken by eithe Jacoby Ellsbury or Cameron. It was too late for Bay and his agent……he was stuck with the Mets’ deal as the only one available.
I’ve seen this script before. I’m also disgusted by the ridiculously high salary totals that free agents are trying to get. I laughed a few weeks ago when Scott Boras publicly claimed that Matt Holliday should get a salary close to what Mark Teixeira got from the Yankees. Are you kidding me, Boras? I can’t believe the Cardinals are reportedly close to signing Holliday for close to $17 million a year for six or seven years for a grand total ranging from $102 million to $119 million, according to ESPN. I just don’t think Holliday is THAT good!
The Red Sox are reportedly talking to Adrian Beltre, who’s looking for a big contract that I don’t think he deserves based on his record.
For the record, I thought the Red Sox were smart to not start the off-season by over-paying Jason Bay — but, somehow, some way, they couldn’t even get Bay to agree to roughly the same amount they had originally slated for him. Something emerged as an obstacle in their negotiations, and the bottom-line is the 2010 Red Sox hitting lineup right now is VERY weak. The fans are already voicing strong dissatisfaction. I’m one of them.
In my view, the Red Sox and the Mets are worse off, and, the only party who might be a bit happier is Bay’s agent, Joe Urbon. Even he looked badly in the handling of the deal.
So much for free agency.
