Jon Heyman of SI.com says that Jason Bay has rejected the Red Sox initial contract offer, and will head to the open market beginning tomorrow.
…this isn’t unexpected, as Bay has made it very clear throughout the month that he wants to test free agency…
According to Heyman, Boston’s offer was believed to be at around four years and $60 million.
Bay hit .267 with 36 home runs and 119 RBI with the Red Sox in 2009, and since joining Boston at the trade deadline in 2008, Bay has hit .274 with 45 home runs and 156 RBI in 200 games.
And thus begins the first shot over the bow!…………….to be comtinued………
umm, that’s continued! lol
Honestly I can’t see anyone going over $15mil/year on Bay. As well they shouldn’t. It’ll probably come down to years.
Hopefully, if the Mets don’t get Holliday, they don’t panick and overpay for this guy.
I agree I think he’s gonna try to gey a 5 year deal.
Bay is what is needed more than Holliday. Bay is more of a pull hitter so Citi will not decrease his HRs by much whereas Holliday will be much impacted. Look it up. Bay should be in the 30-35 range and Holliday in the 18-22 range. Bay is more of a clean-up hitter which is what is missing now.
From most line-ups published here Holliday is coming to bat #4. He is the power bat that is missing. If you say we need a power bat in LF and want Holliday then you expect him to be a power bat.
With a .290 – .300 BA and ~20HRs at $17M for the next 6 years just what do you think will happen? Holliday is very pedestrian outside of hitters parks; Bay is not. Look it up. Bay is a much better fit, contrary to popular opinion. Holliday is a disaster waiting to happen. Think about it.
Power is about the only thing Bay brings. He’s an awful defensive OF’er (worse than Holliday) and doesn’t hit for much of an average.
Holliday is a much better all around package. Think of adding another D. Wright type hitter .320 30 HR’s .900+ OPS w/ 20 steals.
Holliday’s away stats: (2x HR, BA, OPS)
2006: 24 / .280 / .819
2007: 22 / .301 / .860
2008: 20 / .308 / .892
2009: 16 / .299 / .830
Avg HR: 20.5
Avg OPS: .850
Bay’s away stats: (2x HR, BA, OPS)
2006: 44 / 276 / 925
2007: 28 / 237 / 766
2008: 26 / 252 / 852
2009: 42 / 262 / 904
Avg HR: 35.0
avg OPS: .862
Explain to me why Holliday is the obvious choice.
Because Holliday is the better all around player that brings more to the table than Bay does. If I wanted a butcher who didn’t do anything except hit HR’s I would go after Adam Dunn.
The Mets need to bring in players who can do more than one thing. Who cares about his road numbers the guy hit at Busch Stadium which is hardly a hitters haven.
I disagree. Holliday is younger, and a more complete player.
The Mets don’t need a guy who just smashes the ball in the 4 hole. Mets need power, that’s obvious. But how much? If Holliday hits as you said, about 20, and Beltran can be counted on for about 25, and Francouer can probably hit 20, that’s more home runs in your outfield than the Mets entire team had last year.
Add to that Wright’s 20-25, Reyes 10-15, and Murphy already showed he can hit AT LEAST 10 as a semi-regular and you’ve got some pretty good power spread in the lineup.
On the high end there that’s about 115, not including the catcher and 2B positions. Depending on what Omar does, you may or may not get more pop from those positions next year.
The Mets don’t need Holliday to break the home run record, they need good pop as well as a good all around player. Holliday is more of that than Bay.
And as ItalPiazza31 stated, you have all of this PLUS a pretty good defensive team that has speed and hits for pretty good average.
The last time that was a sustainable winning combination was the Cards of the 80s. But I also don’t see the Mets stealing 250 bases either and we don’t have anywhere near the Cards defense.
The last time that was a guaranteed winning combination Russia was still on the Julian calendar and Wilson was just starting his secopnd term asa President.
And ok I exaggerated the Mets home run totals from last year but you get the point.
Holliday is one year younger.
140 HRs (I’m giving you 25 from 2B and C, which is generous) puts the Mets at 14th in the NL; above SF and Pittsburgh. That is not pop.
Brewers, Diamondbacks, and Cubs were 3-5 last year in HRs in the NL. Where did that get them?
Marlins, Reds, Nationals, Braves: 7-10.
Doesn’t really seem to mean much, huh?
Holliday is the better all around package. I’d take either guy for the right amount. But I’d prefer Holliday because hes the overall better athlete and while he may not hit 40 HRs I think he will pepper that tall left field wall.
This is good Bay is under rated and a good feilder. Plus he won’t cost as much as Holliday and had just as good a year as him last year I wonder if the Mets really aren’t interested in Holliday or that was a business move. Hit the weights Zeile is wright in saying that he is not as good as Holliday but he will cost less and the Mets will be able to sign another player