Jason Bay contract extension talks stall

by SoxDevil on Mar 16, 2009 1:13 PM EDT in News

The Boston Red Sox and Jason Bay have put contract negotiations on hold. Theo Epstein commented that it was clear that both sides were not going to be able to come to agreement during spring training, due in part to the current economic climate.

"I think there's a desire to get something done on both sides, there's just a mutual recognition right now that it's going to be next to impossible to get something done," said Epstein.

It seems as though Jason Bay is hoping for an economic turn-around in the second half of 2009. (Aren't we all!) Don't expect Bay to take a mammoth recession discount for the time being, Sox fans.

"You play for six years and you earn the right to be a free agent, and you don't want to sell yourself short," Bay said, according to MLB.com. "That doesn't mean that there doesn't have to be some concessions. But you put yourself in this position, and I think it's in my best interest to kind of explore."

"I've got a year left," Bay said. "If something comes up that makes sense for me, I'll definitely consider it."

Bay batted .293 with 9 home runs in 49 regular season games with the Red Sox last season.

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Not Good News...

We don’t have any power outfielders ready for 2010 and I’d rather see Lars in the Infield. Does 4 Years $50 Million sound fair?

Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.

by sox-inda-south on Mar 16, 2009 4:45 PM EDT reply actions

It's not all about power.

And there are a few FA out there we can get.

WBULTV - BDale TV Prod

by bdalebs on Mar 16, 2009 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Problem

The problem is no quantity of years and dollars is going to sound fair to both sides because of this past offseason. There was clearly a drop in cost for poor fielding, hard hitting outfielders.

Bay’s side doesn’t want to sign for what his cost would have been this past year because demand could easily go up this coming offseason.

Red Sox side doesn’t want to sign for more then his cost would have been this past year because demand could stay the same this coming offseason. Why pay Bay more money then Holliday is going to make.

by drabidea on Mar 16, 2009 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Hopefull

I still feel very confident that the Sox will sign Bay. He fits in well with the team. Mashes the ball as well or better then any other FA. Hard working. I mean what else could you ask for from the guy? The only thing I can think of is better defense, but if Manny can play the green monster I am pretty sure Bay can play it better.

by drabidea on Mar 16, 2009 5:17 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Ditto.

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Mar 16, 2009 5:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Can't say I'm really surprised.

If the Red Sox and Bay continue to act with mutual respect I think that there’ll be ample opportunities to sign Bay once his market value has been established. He seems to like playing here, and I don’t expect no-opportunity-to-counter-offer shenanigans from Bay’s agent.

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Mar 17, 2009 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions

This

Adopted Giant: Clayton Tanner (unless someone tells me he's already been adopted)
"He [Sandoval] is a big, puffy crouton in our wilted salad of a lineup. Do No matter how bad a movie is a eight game sweep is wacky in baseball, so a one run loss in the series is not the end of the world. disparage the comedian." -sfgiantstoday

by walkoff baltimore chop on Mar 18, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Drew

Anyone else think that Drew’s deal might hurt the Sox with the Bay negotiations. Bay’s agent will say that if the Sox are willing to shell out 5yr/70mil for Drew then Bay should get at least that much and probably a bit more.

by Gnick on Mar 17, 2009 3:39 PM EDT reply actions

Ouch!

Forgot about that…Probably will be used as leverage.

Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.

by sox-inda-south on Mar 17, 2009 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions

It doesn't work

If no one else is willing to pay Bay that kind of money.

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Mar 18, 2009 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions

We've been here before

Nothing really shocking here. We’ve seen Theo make this same move before, just this time both sides have the economy as an extra bit of reasoning.

I think the “poor fielding, hard hitting” tag is a bit unfair though. I realize no one was watching when he was in Pittsburgh, but Bay was pretty solid over there. He’s had less than half a season on the Monster. He’ll get there.

As for Drew as a leverage point, I hope his agent is smarter than that. Drew is exorbitantly overpaid (and I’m actually a pretty pro-Drew guy), especially considering how this past off-season went for FAs. Nobody is getting another one of those for a while. The days of the eight figure per year, long term flier are over for the foreseeable future. No one can honestly deny that with a straight face. His agent will certainly try to sell the point, but if he pushes too hard on it negotiations will shut down for real.

by Solomon1975 on Mar 17, 2009 8:30 PM EDT reply actions

Jason Bay has been a below average fielder most of his career.

He has been below average fielder 4 of the 6 years of his career according to UZR and was the worst the last two years. Last year he was actually worse than Manny in LF (Manny was a plus defender in 2008 in BOS) and Bay is trending down. I think the front office should look hard into his fielding before signing him longterm.

by BTLove on Mar 18, 2009 1:57 AM EDT up reply actions