Bay Would Be Perfect for Mets
By Jed Weisberger ~ December 11th, 2009. Filed under: Jed Weisberger.
Let’s turn the clock back to 2002, focusing on the week before spring training ended.
The Mets made a minor trade, sending infielder Lou Collier to the Montreal system for a young outfielder with potential named Jason Bay.
He was only in the Mets system for a few months, going to the San Diego Padres for pitcher Jason Middlebrook in July of that year. It was one of hundreds of trades in which one player – Bay – matures into a star and the other is out of baseball in the blink of an eye.
So it’s unfair to say the Mets missed the boat on Bay seven years ago. San Diego traded the native of Trail, B.C., to Pittsburgh, along with pitchers Oliver Perez (ever heard of him?) and Cory Stewart Aug. 26, 2003, for outfielder Brian Giles.
Bay’s breakout season came in 2004, when he hit .282, with 26 home runs and 82 RBIs in just 120 games. An All-Star Game selection followed in 2005, when he established himself by hitting .306, with 32 homers and 101 RBIs.
That brought a four-year, $18.25 million contract from Pittsburgh, but he was traded to Boston July 31, 2008 in a three-player deal that involved the Dodgers as well.
Now a free agent after a 2009 season, in which he hit 36 homers and drove in 119 runs, his value, at age 31, is at an all-time high. The Mets could use this guy – he has excellent plate discipline and certainly can steal a base while playing more-than-acceptably in the outfield – and have offered a four-year pact worth $65 million.
Bay is the type of player many teams covet. He does his job well, is media-friendly and would take the pressure off David Wright in the Mets lineup in many ways.
If the Mets really want this guy – and they should –step up to the plate in a big way. Offer Bay a five- or six-year deal. Spend what you have to spend. We’re not talking about the Pirates here.
This, of course, could all have been avoided in 2002, but no organization has the foresight to predict a player like Bay will develop into one of the better power hitters of the past decade. It is ironic, however, that he was once in the Mets system as a non-descript player at Double-A Binghamton.
No doubt the Mets could get him. However, especially with Seattle, his wife Kristen’s hometown, a distinct possibility with Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik becoming very aggressive – and the Yankees always lurking – the Mets would do well to up the ante.
Otherwise, this “Bay Watch’’ won’t have any episodes in Citi Field.
KROENKE TO ARIZONA: Former Yankees farmhand Zach Kroenke was a favorite of some Mets fans heading into Thursday’s Rule 5 Draft, but he was taken by Arizona with the sixth selection, one before the Mets picked Phillies farmhand Carlos Monasterios,who was shipped to the Dodgers in a pre-arranged deal.
Kroenke, who was 7-1 with Triple-A Scranton in 2009, had a Rule 5 shot with Florida last spring training and didn’t impress.
“I didn’t know what to expect last year,’’ said the Nebraska product. “I know now, and am looking forward to my chance in Arizona.’’
Diamondbacks GM Josh Byrnes feels Kroenke “has weapons he can use against both left-handed and right-handed hitters.’’
December 11th, 2009 at 9:50 am
I agree completely on Bay. I think he’s a much better fit than Holladay.
Holladay’s numbers drop of considerably away from Coors…he’ll only be good for 25HRs while batting .280. That is not worth Tex money and Met fans will go nuts watching him not live up to their expectations.
Plus, the Mets can’t wait until February to sign Holladay…(when Bora-Ass will send them to the Yank-These)
I just hope that sign Bay won’t stop the Mets from going after Lackey…who is worth A.J. Burnett Money.
December 11th, 2009 at 10:15 am
Bays defense is attrocious, how is a terrible fielder in that spacious outfield a good fit
December 11th, 2009 at 10:19 am
As soon as the Mets move to Vancouver, Bay will sign up with them.
December 11th, 2009 at 11:03 am
While I agree that signing Bay would be a good move, doing “anything it takes” is stupid. You would advise the Mets to give him a crazy contract now, but in a few years, if the contract is an albatross, you’ll be condemning the Mets. As long as the price stays reasonable, yes, sign Bay. But don’t do “anything is takes.”
December 12th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Given their payroll and lack of success, the Mets have to do something relatively big to energize their fan base. Bay has shown to be a big contributor in Pittsburgh and Boston and would be a nice addition to the team. He is a legitimate star whose presence in the line up will make those around him get better pitches to hit. While I understand the concerns raised about “doing anything” there is tough competition to land the bigger names, and Citi will be a pretty depressing site if the Mets don’t land someone big this offseason.