Tag Archives: Jason Bay

Mets Buy Out Jason Bay’s Contract

Jason Bay

Jason Bay (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Mets and Jason Bay agreed to “part ways” today. From the quotes we got from Sandy Alderson and Bay, it sounded mutual. But we all know that the Mets wanted him gone and so did we. They just had to find a way to get rid of him while still owing him $21 million guaranteed.

In three years with the Mets, Bay played in 288 games and hit .234 with 26 HR and 124 RBI’s…. Combined over three years!!! It’ll certainly go down as one of the worst contracts in Mets history, if not the worst. The 4-year/$67 million deal left Bay and his family financially set for life thanks to the Wilpons but left Mets fans exasperated.

The move leaves a hole in left field for the Mets going into 2013 but we all know that the Mets aren’t playing for 2013. They’re building to try to be competitive again in 2014 after Johan Santana’s contract expires.

The only good thing I can say about Bay is that he always hustled and never made excuses for his poor performance when it would’ve been easy to do so. I have to commend the guy for giving 100% effort during extremely difficult conditions. He just seemed to lose any ability to hit the ball. It’s dumbfounding.

Mets Mike Baxter Could Take Over Left Field

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 01: Head Trainer Ray Ramir...

NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 01: Head Trainer Ray Ramirez walks Mike Baxter #23 of the New York Mets back to the dugout after being injured crashing into the wall during the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at CitiField on June 1, 2012 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

Jason Bay’s career has continued it’s steep decline this year. There have been calls from fans for two and a half years to keep Bay out of the lineup so he can’t continue to damage the Mets. Now that Mike Baxter is playing at Buffalo in rehab games, that possibility could become a reality sooner than later.

Baxter’s been on the disabled list since June 1st, when he made that great catch in left field preserving Johan Santana’s no-hitter. But he dislocated his collarbone in the process and ended up losing two months of the season.

Let’s face it, Bay has less than a year and a half on his contract with the Mets. He’s hitting .170/.246/.330 right now and there’s no prospect of improvement on the horizon. As the money left on his contract becomes smaller and smaller, the need to continue to try to get something out of him is reduced.

I’m not sure that Baxter is a long-term solution in left field as en everyday player, but I like the energy and effort he has on the field. And in 40 games (74 PA’s), he’s hitting .323/.392/.523. More than respectable! And when he did get a chance to play, he seemed to be in the middle of every rally. Not killing rallies like Bay has for nearly three seasons, when he’s been healthy enough to play. I’m all for giving Baxter a shot to hold onto left field as the primary starter with Bay playing occasionally against lefties.

Video: Mets 2012 Bullpen, Trades, Jason Bay

I haven’t had the chance to chat with Kerel Cooper of On The Black much this year. But we finally got to talk about the state of the Mets at mid-season. The biggest issues facing the team during their surprising early season success was on the agenda.

We talked about the Mets great starting pitching, miserable bullpen, Jason Bay, and the pleasant surprise that the Mets are actually in the playoff race in July. I thought they would be looking forward to 2013 by July.



Mets Delaying David Wright Contract Extension

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 08: David Wright #5 of t...

CBS Sports is reporting that the Mets are delaying working on a contract extension for David Wright. I wrote that the Mets should offer Wright a contract to keep him with the team for the foreseeable future. But they’re choosing to wait because of Wright’s recent down seasons and some big contract extensions signed by comparable players recently that would increase the value of any contract Wright would sign

It’s a gamble for both parties to wait on an extension for Wright. If he plays well, it’s in Wright’s best interest to get to free agency and exercise his full market potential. But the Mets are at risk of losing Wright to a contract that they can’t, or won’t, match in free agency like Jose Reyes. Continue reading →

Mets Agree to Contract with Frank Francisco

Frank Francisco

Image by Keith Allison via Flickr

The Mets got their closer for 2012 and 2012 in free agent Frank Francisco. He agreed to a 2 year/$12 million deal to work the ninth inning for the Mets. He’s one of the last free agent closers to agree to a contract after Jonathan Papelbon got the market going by signing with Phillies early in the game. Since then the closers have been going quickly which left the Mets with the bargain basement choices left without a chair.

Francisco had 17 saves with Toronto last year with a 3.55 ERA. He’s 32 years old and has a career 3.72 ERA.

Bobby Parnell didn’t appear to be up to the closing job in 2011 so the Mets had to go outside the organization. But it didn’t make sense to go for the high end closers like Papelbon or Heath Bell because the Mets don’t look like they’ll be winning a lot of games in 2012. There’s nothing to save if you’re losing.

Francisco is a solid, low-end closer that doesn’t break the bank. He’ll hold down the fort for two seasons while the Mets ride out the contracts of Jason Bay and Johan Santana.

Video: Mets Weekly Report – Mike Pelfrey and Jason Bay

PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - FEBRUARY 24: RY 24: Mik...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

In this week’s Mets Weekly Report I talk to Kerel Cooper of On The Black about several topics that have hit the news this week both on and off the field. First, Mike Pelfrey made some revealing comments to the New York Post that he thought it was unrealistic for anyone to think that the Mets had a chance at the playoffs in 2011. It’s not so much the content of his comments that’s the concern but the person making the comments. The Mets #1 starter this year talking about going into the season thinking they had no chance is a tough pill to swallow.

Next, we talk about Jason Bay’s recent hot streak. He’s a streaky hitter to start with but there’s still hope that he can get his act together and be the player the Mets thought they were signing two years ago. Bay still has two years left on his deal with the Mets so anytime he goes on even the slightest hot streak we all tend to think that maybe this is the time that he finally get back on track.

Check out the video below and let me know your thoughts on Pelfrey and Bay in the comments.



Marlins 7 – Mets 3 August 1, 2011

PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - FEBRUARY 24: RY 24: RY ...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

The Mets lost this one on a grand slam, of all things, in the tenth inning off Jason Isringhausen. Mike Pelfrey and Javier Vazquez both pitched really well, especially Vazquez.

The game was a thriller and even included a bomb of a home run by Jason Bay, if you can believe that. Then in the bottom of the ninth Lucas Duda hit a huge home run to center field to tie the game and send it to the tenth.

In the tenth, Daniel Murphy made a ridiculous bonehead play at first base allowing a runner caught off base to get back safely. His fielding and instincts continue to be pathetic. But he was 2 for 5 again and is still hitting .320 this year.

Izzy couldn’t get anyone out in the tenth and gave up a shot to left field by Mike Stanton that effectively ended the game. Tough way to lose on a grand slam.

Box score

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Mets 4 – Reds 2 July 25, 2011

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 11: Jason Isringhausen #...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

What a game! R.A. Dickey pitched really well going 6.2 innings and allowing only 2 runs. He had 7 K’s and only 1 walk too. Although he gave up 8 hits, he was pretty sharp. It was one of his best starts of the season.

The Mets scored all 4 runs in the seventh inning when they strung several hits together. Even in a pronounced hitter’s park, they didn’t have any home runs tonight. But they did have a lot of traffic on the bases with 11 hits and 3 walks. Daniel Murphy and Jason Bay had the run scoring doubles in the seventh inning.

It was an exciting finish as Jason Isringhausen got a save the hard way. He loaded the bases. Although one runner was on by a David Wright error. Then Izzy struck out Brandon Phillips to end the game. It was a real thriller!

The Mets take the first game of the series in Cincy and go again tomorrow night.

Box score