Jason Bay

The original article is found at Boston Sox Journalism , the newest site dedicated to Red Sox journalism at it's finest.

So the Bay era is over in Boston. Probably a lot sooner than many Red Sox fans, myself included, had hoped.

Jason Bay, while no Manny Ramirez with the bat, provided the Red Sox with a very solid power stroke in a very walk-happy lineup (second in the AL with 659), hitting 36 home runs, and providing a very nice line of .267/.384/.537.

It will be interesting to see how Bay's style plays at Citi Field, as it is a very young ballpark, and while Fenway Park is noted as a hitter's park, it also can depress HR totals. Particularly for a right handed hitter.

Jason Bay is unofficially off the market as the New York Mets have signed the Canadian-born left fielder to a four-year deal worth a reported $66 million.

This is quite possibly the last big signing of the year, the decade, and Omar Minaya’s final chance to put a winning ball club on the field in the always-competitive National League East.

According to ESPN correspondent, Jerry Crasnick, the deal will become official after Bay takes the required physicals.

Bay and the Mets do appear to be a perfect fit for each other.

On Tuesday, the New York Mets agreed to a four-year contract with free agent outfielder Jason Bay. According to reports, the deal will pay Bay roughly $66 million.

The pact has drawn mixed reactions. Supporters cite Bay's righthanded power, patience and even surprising speed: he has 66 stolen bases in 80 career attempts and has posted at least two triples in every full season of his Major League career.

This Column Originally Published at GetOutofMyBallpark.com

For the third consecutive year, the New York Mets have bagged one of the biggest names in the free agent market.

In 2008 they snatched up two-time Cy Young winner Johan Santana, last year it was K-Rod and now, pending a physical, they are set to bring left-fielder Jason Bay to Queens.

But the real question here is, will the acquisition of Bay really matter this year in terms of being the Mets answer to postseason?

After a quiet series of winter meetings and an eerily nondescript Christmas, the New York Mets finally took the plunge on Tuesday with their acquisition of Jason Bay.

While specific details remain unconfirmed by the Mets' hierarchy, ESPN is reporting a guaranteed four-year, $66 million deal with a vesting option for a fifth year in 2014.

Ironic, isn’t it? In agreeing to a deal with the NY Mets, former Red Sox OF Jason Bay may be flushing his career right down the toilet.

According to multiple reports, Bay has reached an agreement with the Metropolitans on a four-year deal that will guarantee him at least $66 million.  It includes a vesting option for a fifth year (that is readily attainable IF he remains healthy) that would increase his overall compensation to over $80 million.

It looks like Queens was more appealing than Beirut after all for Jason Bay.