Code words indicate Red Sox are not willing to pay Bay $7.25 a year but want it less even though in 6 years he has been better than Ramirez in every aspect of his game. Sox are terrible or incompetent is signing players whose contracts have expired. Looks like Bay is history and Sox will be left with no prime hitting outfielder in 2010. Downsizing of a prime team continues.

Meaning?
Read between the lines for us a little, won't you? The market wasn't too uncertain to get something done with Pedroia, Lester and Youkilis? So why Bay? Boston not hometown enough for him to take the discount, yet? Waiting to see what happens with Matt Holliday in the hopes that the market rebounds at least a little next year for two comparable free agent outfielders? Would you agree that Bay has more going for him as a player than Abreu and Burrell at this point in their careers and Dunn, who may be a bigger bopper but can be a liability defensively? The Sox would love to have Bay but think they can replace him fairly easily so would prefer to underpay for his services?

"Sox are terrible or incompetent is signing players whose contracts have expired"

Posted by mascmen7 March 15, 09 12:21 PM

Bay's contract hasn't expired. And if you're that upset with Boston, go root for another team. Sounds like you want them to spend like drunken sailors, perhaps the Yankees are the team for you!

"Sox are terrible or incompetent . . . signing players whose contracts have expired."

Not sure all the evidence supports that. Damon was worth the $40 million the Sox offered, not the $52 million the Yankees did. The Sox were not willing to go the extra year with Pedro. The Mets were. How'd that work out? For whatever reason, they did not want to resign Lowe. Nomar turned down sixty-million. How'd that work out?

But it's obvious Bay is looking for more than the Sox are willing to offer. If he truly likes it here and does test free agency, perhaps they can work out a market contract (whatever that might be) before next season. Hope they do.

Obviously, Theo is not in a "Bay State" of Mind.

Young players sign longer contracts for a little less money per year to achieve security. That makes sense for many of them. Older players that have already made some decent money have less of an incentive to do that sense they've already put away a nest egg. Plus, the team has less of an incentive to go for a long-term deal because they are older. The situation is different for Bay than it was for Lester, Pedroia and Youk. No blame, no foul on either side. There is great uncertainty in the market now for both sides. It's very understandable. No need for anyone to whine.

Sox are incompetent? Incompetent would be overpaying for a player in this depressed market. Bay has nothing to lose by waiting. He knows the only way he can get the $$ he wants from the Sox is if the market turns around, if it doesn't he can take the Sox deal at the end of the season. Given what players comparable to Bay got this offseason, the Sox are confident they can get him at a reasonable price, or replace him with a cheaper yet comparable alternative. Both sides are being rational, no need to point fingers or blame anyone now since nothing has happened, Bay is still under contract, there is plenty of time to get something done.

No love lost between the Sox and Scott Boros, Jason Bay's agent.
I wouldn't sign any of Boros' clients after the way he led Manny out his Red Sox contract.

Jason Bay has proven that he can perform consistently posting at least 30 home runs and 100 RBI in 3 of the last 4 years. After lusting for J.D. Drew, who has never performed as consistently, the Red Sox are trying to save money on Bay. Though the current market was not kind to OFs such as Adam Dunn, Bobby Abreu, and Pat Burrell, Bay is in the prime of his career and one of the best all-around OFs available. There is a lot of talk about Matt Holliday, but we still don't know how he will perform outside of Coors Field and now in the American League. Holliday is also a Scott Boras client.

The Red Sox should get this deal done soon.

"Code words indicate Red Sox are not willing to pay Bay $7.25 a year but want it less even though in 6 years he has been better than Ramirez in every aspect of his game. " --mascmen7

While Bay is better defensively than Manny, he is not a good LF. Since 2004 (his first full season), Bay has a -36.0 UZR in LF. In terms of hitting, there has been no comparison. Since 2004, Manny has been much better:

Bay - 145 HR .282 AVG/.373 OBP/.516 SLG (1 HR every 18.59 AB)
Manny - 180 HR .310 AVG/.408 OBP/.585 SLG (1 HR every 14.48 AB)

Don't get me wrong, I like Jason Bay and hope the Sox re-sign him. But, regardless of what you think of Manny, Bay cannot compare. Manny is a Hall of Famer, and he put up HOF numbers during his time in Boston.

Wondering what the market is going to be in 1 year? What kind of nonsense
is that? The Sox have a chance to lock up Bay long term but they're playing it like a
futures stock investor.Bay must be thrilled to know he's being treated like
Pork Belly Futures.

"No love lost between the Sox and Scott Boros, Jason Bay's agent. "

Boros is not Jason Bay's agent.

Drugs Delaney....you are obviously on something with your Bay comment. Bay played in left with the Pirates . THat LF in Pitt is a center field position, not like Fenway's. Bay did very well in LF playing the Monster for the first time. No one can compare to Manny's numbers offensively. Bay is underappreciated and the Sox are doing it a bit right now. If I am Bay, why would you take less money at age 30 on a long contract? If the Sox did lowball him, they may regret it. I don't think this is the case as much as THeo trying to find a fair price. Burrell and Dunn had to settle, but Bay is better than both overall. This isn't dead, Bay loves Boston and wants to be here. He will have a monster year and I hope the Sox sign him. Too much quality anda perfect player with this club.

There are likely to be a lot of empty seats in a lot of stadiums this summer because of the economy. (Yankee Stadium would seem to be one of these because of the price of tickets and the corporate cutbacks on Wall Street). Players who can renegotiate before the season starts would be well advised to do so, because if the economy is bad and seats are unsold (not in Fenway, but on the road), there is not going to be as much money to pay the players with next season.

I read this as Bay (or Boras) not believing that the current market for corner OFs will continue into next year. Theo is (understandably) not willing to commit until he sees that the market actually goes up. I'm certainly not going to sweat this...as long as the Red Sox are willing to pay market rate for a left fielder next year they'll get a very good one. Sox will be fine whether its Bay, Holliday, Nady, Carl Crawford, or even an older guy like V. Guerrero, Dye or Abreu.

"better than Ramirez in every aspect of his game" ??? Bhahahahahaha
Pink hat moron.

"Boros is not Jason Bay's agent."

Neither is Boras.

Bay's swing has serious holes that pitchers will exploit in 2009. He's a five or, more likely, six hole AL hitter. Why sign him now? Save now for a three or clean-up hitter. Better still, put the long green toward a new park, Henry.

Haven't the SOX learned from the OC-Renteria mistake? They have a guy who's proven he can handle the pressure and wants to stay here. What more does he have to do?

Wow, it appears everyone who has posted ahead of clearly doesn't get it.

MLB has already predicted an 18-20% drop in revenue league wide this season as a result of the economy. So what does that mean? Even if the Sox are immune and their revenue holds the line or increases, most teams will take a BIG hit. 18-20% is the difference between profitability or losses for most clubs.

So with that being said, we all saw how the FA market changed from November to March this year. There's a really good chance that there will be far less big money, long term deals handed out next fall.

If you ask me, the one who loses big here is Bay. If I was a free agent at the end of this year, I'd have my agent talk extension NOW.

"Neither is Boras."

Yeah, I caught that too. Didn't feel like correcting her twice. Decided to let it be.

First off, as has probably already been mentioned, Scott Boras is NOT Jason Bays agent.
Here is what I think will happen...no sources to pull from...just my own gut feeling.

The Sox can opt out of the rest of JD Drews contract, based in games missed...I believe this season will be a big piece of the games missed total.

My money is on the Sox signing either Bay, or Matt Holliday. I still believe that Bay will still sign with the Sox, but I believe that their main competition will be the Blue Jays...NOT the Yanks, Mets, or Angels.

They will assess the readiness of Josh Reddick for RF. If he doesnt appear ready for 2010, they will sign a FA of for a year or 2 instead.

The fact thathey havnt inked Bay yet means NOTHING at this time. Both sides want the deal done. But why would either side give in yet? They have MONTHS to go before it needs to get done.

I agree that the FA market has changed significantly. Perhaps Jason Bay is not quite aware of all this, and that he may have to take less for his services next year than he would have liked. But I' m hopeful that the Red Sox do sign him sometime during the season-he is a good, solid, professional player. He seems to like Boston, and the fans love him. I certainly do! I think he will have a grwat year for the Sox.
Good luck, Jason-we love you!