Today, the New York Mets have joined the pursuit for Jason Bay.
It was believed that the Mets had been looking for pitching to relieve some of the pressure off of Johan Santana. General Manager Omar Minaya looks to have changed direction in searching for the left fielder.
The only definitive offer that Bay has currently received is from the Red Sox. The Canadian turned down a four-year deal worth $60 million to stay at Fenway Park.
Jason Bay had an excellent season in 2009. He averaged .267 and hit for power with 36 home runs and 119 RBI. These were career highs for Bay in home runs and RBI, meaning his value has certainly risen ahead of free agency.
When traded to the Red Sox in July 2008, Bay had to take over the left field role from the talismanic Manny Ramirez. As a replacement for the talented Ramirez, Bay has managed to cope with the pressure successfully.
Currently, the Red Sox do not have an adequate replacement for Bay in left field. Rumours suggest that Boston is looking to sign Matt Holliday. Holliday is another free agency option. If the Red Sox were to bring him in, Holliday would probably be a solid replacement for Bay, having hit 24 home runs and 109 RBI in 2009 last season in Oakland and St. Louis.
Bay is better player defensively than Manny Ramirez ever was for the Red Sox and he is also a slightly better outfielder than Holliday. The comparison between the two offensively is also pretty close.
Holliday, a three-time NL All Star with the Colorado Rockies, has excellent career statistics with the small-market side. It is often argued that his statistics in Colorado were inflated due to the home-run friendly Coors Field. However, throughout Holliday's career, he has hit for a better average than Bay at .318 over five seasons.
It would probably be best for the Red Sox to try to keep their prized slugger. Since rejecting arbitration, Bay has been in high demand with numerous suitors including the Los Angeles Angels, the Seattle Mariners, and now the New York Mets.
To lose Bay would be an extremely significant loss for the Red Sox. Having led the club in the power categories, his success helped to negate David Ortiz's early season slump. His importance in the last 18 months has been unquestionable. Bay is the Red Sox's main power outlet. It would be unlikely to that Holliday would be a similar replacement. As an all-round hitter, Holliday is closer to a Kevin Youkilis than Jason Bay.
The Red Sox currently have a very strong offense; in 2010, they will have a full season of Victor Martinez and hopefully a resurgent David Ortiz. To bring in Holliday would not be a bad move for the Red Sox. Holliday is obviously a very good ballplayer, but it would certainly be in Boston's interests to offer Bay a better deal.
The Red Sox currently have a lot of depth in the pitching staff so the available payroll should be used to keep the slugger in New England rather than being spent on a Roy Halladay. Bay's power and performances in the clutch should definitely justify this. If Epstein does not act quickly, Bay will have signed elsewhere.
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