Are the Blue Jays Interested in Jason Bay?

by Randy Booth on Oct 15, 2009 1:31 PM EDT in News

Perhaps if the Toronto Blue Jays and new general manager Alex Anthopoulos really want to make their mark on the MLB, they'll try to make a deal for Jason Bay this offseason:

That said, the new GM also is in charge of shopping for the groceries now. So how about Jason Bay for a main course?

Shouldn't Anthopoulos be entitled to make one big free-agent splash when the market opens next month? He has Roy Halladay to deal with and also might have some good young arms in surplus for trading purposes, assuming they get, say, Shaun Marcum and Dustin McGowan back from injury.

But what of Bay? He's Canadian by birth (dual citizen now) and that certainly would, or should, count for something. The Jays have never had a Canadian non-pitcher of all-star calibre and given the way things are going around here with fans, that surely couldn't hurt.

There's some obvious factors here: Bay is going to have a big contract next season, no matter where he ends up. Is Toronto rich enough to afford that? Also, Bay has gotten used to winning with Boston. Although it is his home country, he might not want to take a step back from a year-in, year-out contender to a team that can't even finish their in their division.

But, ya' never know. What do you think? If the Red Sox don't re-sign Bay, do you think he will be Toronto-bound, or to a team that would pay him a prettier penny?

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I don't think so

I don’t think Anthopoulos is going to want to make his mark his first year as GM by trying to make a push with a fairly weak team against the lineups that the Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays all have right now. This is probably one of the toughest times to compete in the toughest division in baseball. I think after some of the horrible blunders Ricciardi made, Toronto will be best served (and their fans will be happiest with) working hard on rebuilding the farm system rather than giant FA contracts. I would be less surprised to see them pursuing someone like Abreu for a shorter term, less $ contract. Plus the Rogers Centre is not exactly the easiest park to field in, and his defesnse is probably not a great match for it.

Plus the fact that he said he became an American citizen because he thought he’d be working in America for the rest of his life implies to me he’s probably not too interested. I have to think that when he can pretty much choose whichever contender he wants to join, he’d be unlikely to choose toronto unless they offered him a Wells-like contract.

by wolf9309 on Oct 15, 2009 1:56 PM EDT reply actions

So they'll avoid big FA signings

And instead give up their 1st round pick for Abreu?

by Ben Buchanan on Oct 15, 2009 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions

good point

I’d somehow had it in my head he was Type B

by wolf9309 on Oct 15, 2009 8:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Nope

Pretty solidly type-A.

by Ben Buchanan on Oct 15, 2009 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Jason Bay's hometown is in BC (just north of Washington across the border)

which is nowhere near Toronto. I highly doubt the Canada case is even valid – if he was wanting to visit his hometown often.

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by mystman995 on Oct 15, 2009 2:08 PM EDT reply actions

Bay grew up in Trail, BC..

If Bay wanted to be closer to BC, he would want to play with the Mariners. Trail is basically an hour and some change flight from Sea-Tac, or if he gets mucho dinero, Boeing Field. I don’t think playing Toronto is that much of a pull, unless the money is the big draw.

by superferret on Oct 15, 2009 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Jason Bay will sign with Seattle.

Arrive...Raise Hell...Leave

by billzfan34 on Oct 15, 2009 3:08 PM EDT reply actions

I could see that

but while it is possible, I think that Seattle is going to be tying up too much of their money this offseason trying to extend Felix to want to be able to really compete with the Yankees/Sox/Mets trifecta of overspenders who would all like to have Bay or Holliday.

by wolf9309 on Oct 15, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Mariners may be leery in offering the moon to Bay

They are only a season or two from having some horrendous contracts, in Jose Vidro and Richie Sexon… They may want to emphasize pitching to help out King Felix. The M’s are probably one or two starting pitchers from winning the AL West in 2010.

by superferret on Oct 15, 2009 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Please take him commies

VARITEK MUST GO
Brandon Webb in 2010

by gizmosandy on Oct 15, 2009 6:10 PM EDT reply actions

I am kind of wishy washy on Bay...

When he is hitting, he is great, he is probably one of the best fastball hitters in MLB, but he needs some more bat discipline on the breaking ball, however, overall he had a good 2009.

by superferret on Oct 15, 2009 10:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Actually, if he wasn't thrown so many damn fastballs, he probably wouldn't have seemed that great:

1.80 runs above average on 100 fastballs, while hitting to the tune of 1.14 on sliders, -0.38 on cutters (not a surprise), 0.76 on curves, 1.13 on changes, and -0.06 on splitters.
Source: http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=1717&position=OF#pitchvalues

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by bdalebs on Oct 17, 2009 12:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Let him go

In my opinion we could let Bay go. We have alot of talent in the farm system in the outfield and they are much cheaper. Its time for some of them to get a chance. One of them could be our next Pedroia or Youk

by cnubsbl16 on Oct 15, 2009 7:24 PM EDT reply actions

I don't think Reddick is ready to be an MLB starter just yet.

Sign Holliday, bring up Reddick when Drew is done.

by Ben Buchanan on Oct 15, 2009 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions

No Love Here??

I’m guessing the overall majority of Red Sox Nation does not see Brian Anderson having a future with the Red Sox. I see no mention of his name, ever.

Don't let anyone steal your Joy

by bigz38fan on Oct 15, 2009 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions

I think he works other places

I think for a smaller market team, he could be a great choice with good speed and great defense, however for a large market team like the red sox with a big budget and a strong farm system, he doesn’t have enough offensive upside to make it as an everyday player.

Even for a 25-man roster backup, it’s more useful to have someone strong offensively to replace Drew against certain lefties- like Baldelli was perfect for in the little bit of time he was healthy. I think Anderson was great for a September call-up player for us, but that’s probably his ceiling with the red sox.

Reddick’s got lots of potential, but as we saw this year, he’s not quite ready for the MLB yet. Some quality time in Pawtucket and he should be just what we need.

by wolf9309 on Oct 16, 2009 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Thanks

I appreciate your input. I agree a smaller market is ideal for BA.

Don't let anyone steal your Joy

by bigz38fan on Oct 16, 2009 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions

The ideal situation in my opinion is letting Bay walk

giving Abreu a 2 year deal to patrol LF and then upgrading at 1B/3B and SS offensively.
If Lowell cannot be traded, a striaght platoon of Lowell and Ortiz @ DH would be expensive but nice.

VARITEK MUST GO
Brandon Webb in 2010

by gizmosandy on Oct 16, 2009 7:19 AM EDT reply actions

I'd rather have Bay than Abreu

Bay is five years younger, and better. Abreu was a 2.6 WAR player this year. Bay’s WAR this year was 3.4. Also, if the Sox re-sign Bay they won’t lose the draft picks they’d lose by signing a FA like Abreu.

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by Drugs Delaney on Oct 16, 2009 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions