Bay To Become Free Agent

November 19, 2009   ·   Paul Raymond   ·   Jump to comments

Everyone knew Boston Red Sox outfielder Jason Bay would hit the open market but today it became official. Well actually it will be official in a little under ten hours. The Sox made a last minute offer to Bay of 4-years for $60 million. An offer which he and his agent Joe Urbon promptly turned down. An extension is now highly unlikely.

“Nothing will happen by day’s end, but we’ll keep talking,” Bay’s agent Joe Urbon said.

Really its no surprise that Bay turned down the offer, a player of his caliber has to test the open market. Sox GM Theo Epstein was actually not surprised that their offer was turned down. “It’s not a surprise that a player that’s gone this far wants to see what’s out there,” said Epstein.

To me this says Theo likes Bay more then Holliday. It’s purely speculative but if a team has an opening at a position and the need to improve, one would assume they’d go after the best possible player. Holliday is better then Bay, so one would also assume that the Sox would go after him first.

By attempting to resign Bay tells me that the Sox may not be as high on Holliday as many believe. Or it could simply mean they’d rather keep a player who succeeded and use the extra money elsewhere.

The Sox will focus on Holliday now but I’m sure Theo will have Urbon on speed dial, just to see if Bay wants to come back.

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