Jason Bay

Joel Sherman of the New York Post is reporting that the New York Mets have reached an agreement on a four-year, $66 million deal with outfielder Jason Bay, pending a physical.

The New York Mets had been having a quiet offseason—until today. Monday, WFAN's Mike Francesa said that he has some major Mets news that he will announce Tuesday.

As promised, on Francesa's show he let out the news that the Mets have reached and agreement with Boston outfielder Jason Bay.

The Mets have finally, finally, finally made a move this off-season.

In an off-season full of total disappointment as Mets GM Omar Minaya failed to make plays for John Lackey, Jason Marquis, Randy Wolf, and Roy Halladay, it appears that the Mets will finally make a splash this winter.

According to WFAN radio host Mike Francesca, the Mets will sign outfielder Jason Bay to a long term contract. The deal is pending a physical and, according to Francesca, the Mets will make an announcement after the New Year.

The market is still wide open for Jason Bay, who most analysts agree is one of the top three free agents available this offseason. Surprisingly, he has not been highly sought after and has only received two known offers from the Red Sox and the Mets. Both offers are for four years and between $60 and $65 million.

He rejected the Sox offer early in hopes of receiving a fifth year, but that has not happened yet, and now he is leaving the Mets in limbo by not making a decision on their offer.

As Jason Bay and his agent attempt to restart talks with the Boston Red Sox, there are a number of reasons why it would be wise for the Sox to continue to pass.

First, they're over-crowded in the outfield. With the recent signing of Mike Cameron (two years, $15 million) and Jeremy Hermida (one year, $2.25 million), there is no need for Bay.

Jacoby Ellsbury, Mike Cameron, and J.D. Drew would be the regular outfielders.

According to The New York Daily News' Adam Rubin, Jason Bay's agent, Joe Urban, has been MIA for the last few days. Sounds like classic dating trouble. Things were getting interesting, but now she's not answering the phone. "She's just not that into you," may apply.

Meanwhile, WEEI's Rob Bradford reports that the Red Sox are considering another offer to Bay. Sounds like Bay went looking for something better, realized he was throwing away a good thing, and is now trying to get Boston to take him back. 

There's something cooking in New York and no, it's not the Mets.

(Aaron Torres is a journalist whose work has been published by Sports Illustrated and syndicated by USA Today and AOL.com. To read all of his work, including this article in its entirety , please click here, or visit him at www.aarontorres-sports.com )

Out of every sport, baseball is the one I go furthest back with.

Amidst the Monday news of the Red Sox signing pitcher John Lackey and outfielder Mike Cameron came a truth that far too many are just sweeping off to the side like it doesn't matter—Jason Bay will not return to Boston next season.

While Theo and the gang may be ready to just move on quickly, I'm not fully prepared to drive Bay to the airport just yet. Bear with me for a minute, throw on some Pearl Jam (his at-bat band of choice), and grab some tissues if you start getting emotional. We'll get through this together.

With the 2009 free agent market beginning to turn the corner, names are being erased off the chalkboard and only a few big players remain. One week ago when the GM Meetings were taking place, we didn’t see too many signings, only trade rumors.

To start the week off, Phillies fans received a nice little Christmas gift from the Toronto Blue Jays. After being strongly connected to trade rumors involving SP Roy Halladay since June, the Phillies finally set the deal in stone and acquired Halladay.