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Sox still interested in Bay

Print | Comments () Posted by Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff November 30, 2009 03:42 PM

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The Red Sox are still trying to work out a deal to retain Jason Bay as their left fielder, according to a major league source familiar with the talks.

The source indicated Bay is still a top priority, which runs counter to a report by FoxSports.com this morning suggesting that Matt Holliday is the Red Sox' preferred target.

There's a lot of interest in Bay, who is perceived as the less expensive run-producing righthanded-hitting outfielder between he and Holliday. But Bay has already turned down a four-year, $60-million deal from the Sox. All indications are the Red Sox are still trying to build on that offer.

The Sox have not yet had any face-to-face meetings with free agents, as they did a year ago with Mark Teixeira. They remain interested in Marco Scutaro as a potential shortstop candidate to replace Alex Gonzalez, who signed with the Blue Jays.

The team remains interested in free-agent righty John Lackey, but has less interest in Toronto ace Roy Halladay with the price so high.