Red Sox Nation Don’t Sweat Jason Bay- The Brain’s Hot Stove Report
” Bay Rejects Sox Initial Offer As He Will Test The Waters”
There’s No Place Like Home- For years Jason Bay played in the Pirate organization where the only playoffs that mattered were found on XBox 360 in Madden tournaments. Bay has finally found a home in Boston and if he really likes it here the Red Sox will keep him. Don’t stress out that he rejected the Red Sox initial offer because the only way he can see what is out on the open market is to reject the Sox offer during their exclusive negotiating time. I think Jason Bay will be a member of the 2010 Boston Red Sox and I would be shocked if he ended up in another city.
THE LATEST ON JASON BAY AND MATT HOLLIDAY
I think everyone needs to take a deep breath and relax because Jason Bay isn’t going anywhere. The Red Sox like him and he likes Boston. Bay is one of those rare guys who fits the city perfectly and I just don’t see him signing anywhere else. The Angels have been rumored as well as the Cardinals but I just don’t see them being able to outbid the Sox for his services. The Angels just signed Bobby Abreu to a 2 year 19 million dollar deal so in that outfield where does Bay fit. If I am the Cardinals I would focus all my attention of signing Matt Holliday because like Bay he fits the Cardinals perfectly. Remember the Red Sox payroll was down last year as both Manny and Schilling came off the books so the Sox have some money to spend. That money will most likely be spent on Jason Bay. The real question is how long are the Red Sox willing to sign him for. Bay is 31 years old so for that reason I can’t see the Red Sox going any higher than a 4 year deal. Rumors stated that the Sox offered him a 4 year deal at 60 million which he rejected but I don’t think anyone really knows how long and how much the deal was really for. Other than football picks I don’t like to predict many things but in this case I will make an exception Jason Bay will be a member of the 2010 Boston Red Sox. I just don’t see the Sox losing him to another team. Had Matt Holliday hit better in Oakland then the Holliday rumors may have some merit but if I am Matt Holliday I have to think long and hard about leaving the National league as it seems all of his success has come at the expense of the Senior Circuit.
3 FREE AGENT NAMES FOR RED SOX NATION TO THINK ABOUT
1ST NAME- MIGUEL TEJADA- Ok I know Tejada is a former steroid guy but the Sox did decline their option on Alex Gonzalez leaving them a hole at shortstop. Jed Lowrie isn’t ready and as much as I love Nick Green I would be shocked if the Red Sox broke spring training with him as their number 1 shortstop. This brings us to the name above, Miguel Tejada. Tejada does have a good relationship with David Ortiz as both are from the Dominican Republic. Tejada is 36 years old and a Type A free agent so if the Sox were to sign him they would have to give up 2 sandwich picks. Tejada was 8th in the NL in batting with a .313 average. He also hit 14 home runs with 86 RBI’s. Perhaps the most intriguing thing about Miggy’s stats was that he had a .795 OPS which is decent for a shortstop. The Sox may look to add Tejada at a price around 8-9 million dollars a year.
BACKUP PLAN FOR BAY- JERMAINE DYE- Jason Bay is going to end up staying in Boston for the simple fact that the Red Sox don’t really have an adequate replacement for him on either the free agent or trade front heading into the 2010 season. If somehow things were to get “Mark Teixeira ugly” and Bay ended up going elsewhere Jermaine Dye could be his replacement. Ok Dye is 36 years old and he is clearly at the end of his career, but the guy still does have power as he hit .250 27 HR’s and 81 RBI’s. His OPS was only .793 which more than likely means he struck out over 100 times (108). Dye isn’t Bay but he does have power and he also has that rare flare for the dramatic that Bay displayed in the ‘08 postseason with his team leading 6 homers. Dye would be a good fit on a 1 year deal for about 7 million dollars. There is no way the Red Sox sign Jermaine Dye if Jason Bay agrees to terms. Dye is also a Type A free agent costing the Sox picks. Jason Bay is a Type A free agent as well so if he were to leave the Sox would endup with 2 sandwich picks.
IMPORTANT SIDE NOTE- For those of you who don’t know what I am talking about some sandwich picks in previous years were Jacoby Ellsbury, Clay Buchholz, and Jed Lowrie. A sandwich pick is a pick granted to a team that has lost a Type A or B free agent in between the 1st and 2nd rounds of the amateur baseball draft. The Type A picks are between rounds 1 and 2 and the Type B’s are between rounds 2 and 3. Your type is determined by the amount of money you make.
IS THE CHASE FINALLY OVER??- IS RICH HARDEN FINALLY HEADED TO THE NATION??
Harden is a guy the Red Sox have coveted since they began running the team in 2003. To be honest Rich Harden may have the filthiest stuff in major league baseball, the only problem is that he can’t stay healthy. Since he broke into the big league’s in 2003 he has managed just 31 starts 1 time in his career and that was in 2004 where he went 11-7 with a 3.99 ERA. Harden’s best season was probably 2008 when he was 10-2 witha 2.07 ERA in 25 starts. He started 26 games last season going 9-9 with a 4.07 ERA. He struck out 171 batters in 148 IP. Harden throws gas with a deep 90’s fastball and a solid change up and slider. When he has command of these 3 pitches Harden is clearly an ace in this league, however he does tend to get behind hitters allowing high pitch counts which usually led him to the disabled list. This is a guy that the Sox may take a flyer on if the money is right. They would probably offer Harden no more than 6 million dollars due too the fact that he hasn’t thrown 200 innings in his career. With Jon Lester going over 200 innings for the 2nd straight season the Red Sox couldn’t justify offering Harden more money. Plus with Josh Beckett’s impending free agency in 2011 they might need to find a way to lock him up if they so choose. Harden is very interesting though because he is a guy the Sox brass have liked since day 1. Harden made 7 million dollars last year and because he was hurt again that number could drop. Harden is a Type B free agent so the Cubs would receive a compensatory pick if someone were to sign him. I think this is unlikely to happen but you never know.
Check back next week as we will explore some of the Sox trade possibilities heading into 2010.
Matthew Giacoppo-The Brain
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