Tag: Jason Bay

Mets Introduce Jason Bay At Citi Field

WBC Photo Day: Canada

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Today was the dog and pony show that the Mets held for Jason Bay at Citi Field. The 31 year-old will be entering his eighth big league season. His career 162 game average slash line is .280/ .376/ .519. The Mets will be the fourth team that he’s played for after San Diego, Pittsburgh, and Boston.

This post is filled with multi media from today’s festivities including audio and video. You’ll get more than your fill of Bay from this post to last you until spring training.

The Mets did the right thing by making offense a priority this offseason. I know that some of you think the rotation is the biggest weakness. But the Mets already have resources committed to the rotation, they just need to get them producing on the field and add a middle/back of the rotation piece.

There’s still going to be some fanfare for the Mets, but nothing on the level that Bay brings. I expect Bengie Molina to sign eventually when he realizes that nobody is going to offer him a three-year deal. And I also expect a starting pitcher to sign with the Mets before the end of this month.

We’ll get to those signings when they happen. Today is Bay’s day with the Mets. The audio and video is after the break.

Continue reading “Mets Introduce Jason Bay At Citi Field”

Jason Bay Physical, Darryl Strawberry Apprentice, And More

New York Yankees vs New York Mets at Citi Field in New York

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Things are finally starting to heat up this offseason for the Mets. Jason Bay is in the house and due to be introduced tomorrow at a press conference. But that’s not the only action going on after a slow start for the Mets.

  • NY Post– Bay passed his physical in spite of past knee and shoulder problems
  • Mets.com– Former Met and current SNY broadcaster Darryl Strawberry will be in this year’s cast of “Celebrity Apprentice”
  • Amazin’ Avenue– A tweet from Jerry Crasnick of ESPN has the Mets and Red Sox talking about a Luis Castillo for Mike Lowell trade
  • Remembering Shea– A great picture of sunny, warm Tradition Field to get you fired up for spring training

Talk back in the comments below about the Castillo for Lowell trade. I like it. Although I think that I’d like any trade that moves Castillo at this point. Lowell could be a nice platoon at first base and we know he’s a solid citizen in the clubhouse who has overcome a lot in his life.

Links: Mafia And The Mets, Jason Bay And More

Citi Field at Night

Image via Wikipedia

I haven’t been posting links to good Mets reading lately and I’d like to get back to that in 2010. So here we go in no particular order:

  • James Fanelli of NY Post– This is a good article on the sketchy construction firms that the Mets used to help build Citi Field.
  • John Delcos’ New York Mets Report- Predicting the 2010 Opening Day starting lineup and batting order
  • Amazin’ Avenue– They’re doing a good series on the Mets All-Decade team including this link on third base
  • Ken Belson of NY Times– He writes a good piece about fellow Mets fans and their displeasure with the team leading to slow season tickets sales in December
  • Lee Jenkins of Sports Illustrated– This is a good column on why the Mets had to get Jason Bay this offseason
  • Beyond The Box Score– This is another good slant on Bay signing with the Mets and how the last couple of years of his contract will likely have Bay getting paid much more than his performance value
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Bay Signing May Give Daniel Murphy First Base

NEW YORK - JUNE 22: Daniel Murphy #28 of the ...

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Although we’re still waiting for the official confirmation that Jason Bay passed his physical for the Mets, I started thinking about the repercussions this could have on the rest of the positions that the Mets need to improve. If the Mets couldn’t sign Bay or Matt Holliday, the pressure would have been on Omar Minaya to sign free agents or look for splashy trades to improve other positions in the field.

The biggest beneficiary of the Bay signing could very well be Daniel Murphy. The light-hitting first baseman was a prime candidate to be a victim of an upgrade at his position. But the offensive pop that Bay adds to the lineup could make Murphy a starter in 2010 or maybe a platoon player if the Mets can find a right-handed hitter to compliment him at first base.

Continue reading “Bay Signing May Give Daniel Murphy First Base”

Video: Jason Bay Signs With Mets

Jason Bay at a game between Orioles and the Re...
Image via Wikipedia

The Mets finally bagged Jason Bay for 4-years/$65 million with a vesting option that could take it to 5-years/$80 million. That’s a fair deal in my mind. Surprisingly, the Mets didn’t bid against themselves to overpay for Bay. I would guess that the impetus for Bay signing now is that Mark DeRosa signed with the Giants already. So there was one less suitor for Bay.

If you’ve been reading this site for a while now, you know that Bay or Matt Holliday in left field was my priority for the team. So… “mission accomplished” to quote George Bush. Now it’s time that the Mets move on to resolving the starting catcher and a middle/back of rotation starting pitcher. If they could trade Luis Castillo away for a bag of balls I’d be thrilled too.

Video is after the break. Continue reading “Video: Jason Bay Signs With Mets”

Video: Jason Bay To Red Sox Still Possible

Cesar Izturis and Jason Bay

Image by Keith Allison via Flickr

I’ve included some ESPN video with Jerry Crasnick after the break for you on the slight possibility that Jason Bay winds up back in Boston. Although I seriously doubt that’ll happen, mostly because the Sox already got Jeremy Hermida and signed Mike Cameron. The Red Sox are just under the luxury tax for 2010 and they’d be paying a 22.5% premium if they went over. I can’t figure out how Bay makes sense for them unless they unload Hermida and Cameron.

Crasnick goes on to say that the Giants and Angels are still in the mix for Bay but I think the Mets are his best option financially. Speaking of financially, the video includes some info about Matt Holliday and the Cardinals. How can they open the vault for Holliday when Albert Pujols is a free agent next year? They can’t. Don’t be surprised if Holliday/Scott Boras come back to talk to the Mets before all of this is said and done.

Video is below the break.

Continue reading “Video: Jason Bay To Red Sox Still Possible”

Mets, Jason Bay Closer To Contract

BOSTON - JULY 05: Jason Bay #44 and David Ort...

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

In a report for Foxsports, Ken Rosenthal writes that Jason Bay has officially turned down the offer that was on the the table from the Red Sox. It was widely reported at the end of the season that the Sox had offered Bay a 4-year/$60 million contract. Last week the Mets trumped that slightly with a 4-year/$65 million offer.

It appears that the Red Sox aren’t willing to move from their original offer. Rosenthal notes that the Mariners and Angels are both rumored to have some level of interest in Bay as well. The Mets are now in a stronger bargaining position than ever. That’s good news for those of us that would like to see Bay come back to the Mets organization.

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