7
2012
Bay and Mets Part Ways, Deferred Salary Will Go Toward 2013 Payroll
An article by 
Update 2:30 PM - This just in from Joel Sherman of the New York Post: The Mets will spread the remaining amount owed to Bay over the course of several years.
The Mets say they wouldn’t have done Bay buyout if didn’t give them the ability to spend more in ’13, otherwise they would just have tried again with Bay if that were case.
That means Alderson picks up some extra dough to spend…
Update 2:05 PM – Joel Sherman says the Mets have deferred the $19 million they owed bay for a few years. No specifics given.
This looks like that if they wanted to they could reinvest the $19 million and take the hit 4-5 years from now when the Mets are on firmer financial footing.
As I said the Wilpons are entrenched.
But if this means more payroll, I don’t care when they pay him. We need productive players right now and I’m sick of waiting for the farm hands.
Let’s see what happens…
Update 2:00 PM - The Mets have bought out Jason Bay, who had been owed $19 million. Terms of the settlement were not immediately available.
Original Post 1:45 PM
Jason Bay and the New York Mets today announced a negotiated early expiration of his contract. The agreement provides Bay his unconditional free agency while the Mets gain roster flexibility. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“Jason is a great teammate, hard worker, stand-up guy, and true gentleman,” said Mets Chief Operating Officer Jeff Wilpon. “Like Jason, we had planned for the kind of production here that he enjoyed in Boston and Pittsburgh, where he established himself as one of the game’s top players. We wish Jason and his family success and happiness in the future.”
“Jason has a tremendous work ethic. There was never any question about it,” said Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson. “Unfortunately, the results weren’t there and we are in a results-oriented business. We thank Jason for his efforts and wish him well.”
“I still feel I have plenty to give to this game and that I can play baseball at a high level. But after serious consideration, both sides agree that we would benefit from a fresh start,” said Bay. “I’m grateful we were able to reach an agreement to allow that to happen. I’m excited to keep playing and have no intention of just walking away. I enjoyed my time in New York. I have no regrets in signing with the Mets, other than that I wasn’t able to play to the level that the team, the fans and I all expected and that we weren’t able to win more games. I move on with nothing but an appreciation for the organization and its fans and best wishes to all my teammates there.”
“As I’ve previously said, there’s not a player who tried harder to succeed or was more frustrated and disappointed than Jason himself,” said Mets Manager Terry Collins. “I’ll miss Jason’s presence in the clubhouse as a player, teammate, and person.”
Bay was signed as a free agent by the Mets on January 5, 2010 to a four-year contract with a vesting option for a fifth year.
Wow, I was just telling TRS that I didn’t believe Alderson when he said Jason Bay would be on the team in 2013. I said he’d cave to fan pressure and he would be gone. That was like an hour ago, lol.
Yes everybody, all GM’s listen to and sometimes cave into fan pressure.
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 26 | 18 | .591 | - |
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| Phillies | 21 | 24 | .467 | 5.5 |
| Mets | 17 | 25 | .405 | 8.0 |
| Marlins | 13 | 32 | .289 | 13.5 |
Last updated: 05/21/2013
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Happiest day in my life
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!! GOOD BYE YOU PIECE OF SHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!
HOLY CRAP!!!!!
He will be an all star in 2013.
Good guy. Too bad it just didn’t work out. Baseball is a weird thing sometimes.
I’m floored by this. I wanted it to happen. but never thought it would. I’m literally shocked.
After reading this again it says the Mets pick up roster flexibility? And that the Wilpons were behind this? Does that mean he didn’t get the $16 million and the buyout? Joe D. can you please update this a little more?
It looks like the terms are secret but if we have flexibility than Bay must have given them money or agreed to something like that I would think.
I would imagine it involved deferred money. Ultimately, the Mets will have to pay more since I cant see the Union allowing a guy to settle for less money. That sets a bad example and they would stop the deal.
It will be interesting to see the details come to light.
I am all smiles right now!!!
Wholesale changes?
I wonder if this was another Bonilla deal, instead of giving him $16 million now, they’ll pay him $80 million 15 years from now.
LOL
that was only because they took 5 mil Bonilla gave them…put it into a Madoff account getting 18 %…and said they would give back BB his money with 8% interest
The WIlpons were planning to pay Bonilla 25 mil…after they made 100 mil first
Wow, this is epic. But now we truly have no legitimate outfielders, literally! Not one. I wonder if another shoe is going to drop?
Looks like Duda everyday in LF, Kirk in CF and Valdespin in RF.
Notice the words say “roster flexibility” not “payroll flexibility”.
No way Valdespin in right. Not to mention that he has little power for a power position, he has the worst arm of any OF they’ve had there … even worse than Torres who had a noodle himself.
Are you saying that Bay was a legitimate outfielder.
We upgraded the OF by getting rid of Bay lol….I think this clears up some kind of payroll since they said they negotiated some money should deferred, No?
I cant imagine they pay Bay the full amount owed to him without some sorta compensation like cap relief. Or a Bobby Bo type deal where the money is spread out for years
I wouldn’t say it was fan pressure. It was a smart move all around. Who would say, “yeah, this guy sucks but we’re on the hook for the money so we’re rolling with him, come hell or high water!”?
Best of luck to you Jason, hope your head is clear of all the cobwebs and hopefully this adds some sort of flexibility to this years team. I wonder what the buy out was like, if there was anything deferred, etc. etc.
Is Today April Fools Day????
Thank you lord, this changes everything!!!!
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!
There is a GOD
BEST BASEBALL MOVE EVER BY SANDY ALDERSON….Id rather watch a bag of peanuts play LF than Bay….
I can see Bay signing with the Yankees lol
Leroy!!!!!!!!!!! The CORE salute you and glad that you’re ok.. heard you was out and had not been around here for a while.. I hope you and yours are well man…
Hey whats up Alex!!!! Thanks for the concern but im good….hope you and your family/friends are as well.
All it takes is a little good news and us Mets fans start coming out of the wood works.
Unfortunately, This will be Sandys only good news out of the GM meetings…
Yo!!!!! What up Leroy!!!!
Maniac
Sandy doing what he does best CUT/subtract….too bad he sucks when it comes to ADDING!!! And we thought all Sabr freaks were Math wiz’s
Now, what some of the gooners were preaching on, money, now Sandy has some to spend, let’s hope he knows how to use what he got instead of repeating that “Good Day” he had last offseason short after reyes left…
Good Riddance
Hey! Notice that it says “roster flexibility” and not “payroll flexibility”. It’s subtle but it doesn’t necessarily mean this does anything to our payroll budget.
Good catch!
In the words of Daniel Bryan…..
YES!
YES!
YES!
YES!
YES!
YES!
YES!
WHATTTTTT????? I thought this was joke! I’m phukking thrilled!!!!!!!
I want details. I want to know if this deal actually frees up cash for the coming season. If it does then Joe, it’s not caving to the masses at all. It’s a smart business decision.
Per MLBTR, it says some is deferred. No mention of amounts.
http://twitter.com/JonHeymanCBS/status/266257006694920192
The second best piece of news I’ve heard in the last 24 hours (the first piece of news is not that hard to think about).
Thank god,
We dont have to go into next season with some punch drunk mets fans saying, “Hey, I think Bay can get back to form this year and he could ….”
LOL, something we all agree on.
DEFINITELY!
Hey Leroy, who’s the guy that said Bay hits lefties well? lol
Feel bad that it did not work out for Jason for he did give 100 percent but it was, of course, the best thing for both parties.
How it will help the Mets beyond freeing up a roster spot I do not know for his settlement is still part of the payroll and the financial situation won’t change because of it.
Joey, they are deferring part of the money. Now granted I know not of how much nor if they will spend it but it could very well affect payroll flexibility as well.
Hi TR,
Hope you made it through Sandy (the hurricane) OK and unscathed.
Like with Reyes, Krod and Beltran, we will have to see how much of the money they might have saved – by deferring payments to the future – goes either to the roster or to further reducing overall operating expenses.
Christmas came early for Mets fans this year. I asked Heyman to give me the lowdown on deferred details, and I’ll update when he replies.
I say we all join together in a rousing rendition of Joy to the World.
Joe, if it does provide payroll flexibility and they use it… two keys… would you still say it was caving to the masses?
They were doing whatever it took to make sure Mets fans wouldn’t see Jason Bay next season. Not even two weeks ago Alderson said it was a certainty Bay would be in spring training. I blasted him for it. Many others blasted him on Twitter and other sites.
Yes, he caved in my opinion. And thank god the Wilpons worked out the terms that allowed this to happen. Word is that it was all Wilpons.
Why are you always so quick to praise the WIlpons? You are like the exact opposite of that other guy from Luhud.
Joe, just reeks of can’t win for losing IMO.
This just in from Joel Sherman: The Mets say they wouldn’t have done Bay buyout if didn’t give ability to spend more in ’13, would just have tried again with Bay if that were case
Hi Joe,
But we know to take what the Mets say with a grain of salt.
SAD TRUTH COMING…………………IN………………………………….3………………………2……………………..1
“Mets fans havent been this happy since we made the playoffs”
FACT!!!
And we havent as a whole agreed on anything like this since…………………………………DRAWING BLANKS!!! LOL
I think we were pretty close with Ollie P
LMAO!
I’m not seeing the “Happiness” Someone please explain why this should make me happy?
1. Are people thinking the Wilpon’s will now suddenly turn into DaddyBigBucks and buy us a shiny new right handed power hitter?
2. Are people thinking “Thank God! Now we can se what Lucas Duda can do! Becasue playing right field just took such a tool on his hitting.
3. Nice! Now we can sign Scott Harrison to a 3 yr deal!
Explain to me why I should be happy?
Didn’t you just hate seeing that guy come to the plate? There’s one HUGE reason!
Had you said something about sandy alderson still being the GM and i might’ve given you thumbs up.. however i disagree with you, this is a moment we should all enjoy and be happy for.. At least Duda is a homegrown player who will try to be better and who knows, we might actually trade or even sign someone decent to play LF for us.. This is our candidacy results..
For now we will enjoy this moment.. however, we must remember sandy alderson still our GM and wake up tomorrow.. Let’s see if the man finally is able to prove the non saber gooners wrong and come up with some sort of of idea to make this team better!!!
Joel Sherman reported that the Mets are still paying him all $21 million left but the terms of deferral have not been disclosed…..should be interesting
Baywatch Baseball In Met uniform Ends.
After watching Obama win, this is the next best news!!!
End of an Error!
See, I told you the future was getting brighter
@Padres C Yasmani Grandal suspended 50 games without pay for testing positive for Testosterone, a performance-enhancing substance
Ouch. That hurts them and him. They were counting on him.
And I was hoping we could pry away Austin Hedges since they had no need for him with Grandal.
It’s snowing outside and now I learn that Jason Bay is gone. It’s beginning to feel a lot like…
The Mayans are right.
Looking at how things are now, we have Nieuwenhuis, Baxter, Duda and Valdespin are our only outfielders on the 40 man roster. And they all bat lefty. Who are we going to target?
If I were the Mets, I’d get on the phone with Tampa and work out something for Desmond Jennings. He needs a change of scenery badly. He has speed, good glove, and pop. He needs to work on his selection and to make contact. He was up and down in that aspect this past season, but I see a big year coming.
Desmond Jennings? I’m liking this idea.
Technically, Juan Lagares & Cesar Puello are also on the 40-man roster with Alonzo Harris possibly to be added. Of course, none of them will help in 2013, if ever. Andres Torres remains under contract too and possibly won’t be non-tendered now.
However, I’d rather have 3 outfielders on the team as of November and maybe 15 million to spend than 3 OF + Bay and 5 million to spend, assuming about half the $$ are deferred…
Personally, I wish Jason Bay the best. He took the media and fans abuse like a man,and I wish him all the best in his career. Now shifting towards other news: I can see the Mets listening to offers for Neise now,as I believe they’ll shop him at the Winter Meetings,and be looking for a power hitting outfielder.
Yes It would be the Wilpons, just like any million dollar decision concerning payroll.
Just like the bogus 100 million salary cap that this huge market NY team shouldn’t have to operate under. I doubt Fred and Jeff decided to walk into Sandy’s office and pleaded with him to let them negotiate with Bay to cut ties and free up cap space. I think it was probably the other way around.
To give anyone credit for this other than Jason Bay is nonsense. He had all the power here and probably had to eat his pride and realize this meant he was a total failure. Sure, he may succeed somewhere else, but NY baby… it’s a killer. It should make one think about guys like Wright and Dickey who have stood above the bright lights and carried the pressure like men.
What’s this really mean? 2 or 3 million extra to spend? Possibly 4 or 5? Who knows? A big question mark and lingering negativity the fans still feel has somewhat been relieved. Maybe this means there’s some hope. Maybe contention is in the works. Maybe and likely not though. We’ll see.
Nice job Sandy, and nice job Joe D. for forcing him to make this move
Feels liberating. The first of many big and good moves I hope.
Good god…..people act like this team is now a contender. Ha! Glad he’s gone, but this team still stinks, folks.
matt, why cant you just enjoy the moment? sometimes it feels like a goth festival here with all the depressing people.
I still dont get why Bobby Bo is the poster child for deferred contracts…
Bret Saberhagen was the first met player in 1995 to do that…
Hell Frank Cashen in 1991 was the first met exec to do that…
and the wilpons will be paying Beltran, Johan, Glavine, Pedro and a whole lot more in deferred salary from 2013-2020
Saving money on Bay is going towards paying THEM…not for a new CF…relax people…
Just_d_DAMAJA — do you have $ figures on those deferred contracts ?? I had no idea we had Beltran, Glavine, Johan and Pedro on deferred .. We owe Beltran $7mm ?? and whats BobbyBo also –Wasnt George Brett the first deferred contract i alway think Brett as poster boy..apprec if know figures..
Let’s not kid ourselves, the Met fan base forced this move. They knew they could not run him out there on opening day and pray he is a different ballplayer. I wish him well and hope he is completely healed from his concussion and does well for a new team. Is this a move to go after Bourn? I wonder.
There is a God. It’s about time, enough hoping he would regain his form. He was washed up in NY. Good riddance.
So who will pick Jason up for a million dollars plus incentives?
Yup- this makes all the sense in the world. I never believed the nonsense- a previous report or rumor from a Mets source that the Mets, more specifically Sandy wouldn’t eat the the last guaranteed year of Bay’s contract and delete this distraction before ST. Probably, the Mets will still pay Bay 15MM in 2013, 12MM over the course of the season- 2MM per month and then his 3MM buyout after next season with the remaining 6MM still owed to Bay spread out over 3 years at 2MM per from 2014-2016. Jerry Crasnick tweets that the Tribe might be interested in Bay. They’re looking for a RH bat for LF and DH and of course the re-uniting with Terry Francona angle.
He will go somewhere and hit .300, smack 35hr’s, & drive in 120 and be comeback player of the year. Mets will be looking toward 2014. I never wanted to see them sign Bay in the first place, I knew they would not get Holliday that year so I guess they went with what they could get. I wish him no ill will but he still bends me the wrong way last 3 years were a complete bust.. Good luck Bay!
Ain’t it funny that Bay wants to run back to Boston now? I wouldn’t be surprised if he put up those kind of numbers.
the mets will now be able to pay Carlos Beltran’s 7 million dollars they owe him in 2013
LMAO
Bay will end up in Boston and will be a very popular player. Good luck!!
If Bay was such a class act like they say he is, he would have agreed to forgo his 2013 salary and just hit the free agent market. He DID NOT DESERVE a dime from the Mets all he gave them was strikeouts and was injured half the time he was on the team. A true classy guy would have said “listen guys, you have paid me millions for the past 3 years, Ive done nothing in return, I agree to let my final year be void” but no hes a piece of crap and i hope no team signs him to anything and that he retires for good. There are people out there working hard for a buck dealing with idiot co-workers and this guy gets paid 19 million dollars to hit the free agent market and try to get another job at the same time. UNBELIEVEABLE. the Wilpons need to go. they should have made this bastard stay on the team and sit on the bench all year make him suffer but they are the worst management i have ever seen from any team in any sport.
You crammed a whole lot of ridiculousness and absurdity into one paragraph.
The union would never allow that.
Jason would have to “retire”…stay out of baseball for at least a year…then “unretire”
Xtreemicon, you talk crap most of the time yet refused to be insulted and/or hate to be proven wrong, this guy has some valid points. a true class act would’ve said listen, let me go, i forego my salary and we move on like a happy couple. THAT would’ve been acceptable even by the MLBPA, he could’ve deferred his contract using the “I did not wanna play for NY” excuse.. Very poor choice of words on your end, a so called writer of the blog for a person that wants to comment here.. you and your little buddies seem to have this ego as if you run the blog. try being humble to the newcommers here just out of respect for joe d you ________ Defensive back…
What you said makes even less sense than what he said. The MLBPA would have let him just forgo his salary? You actually managed to beat the other guy. Way to go. How about this. Out of respect for Joe D, stop calling everyone stupid, childish names. How about that? No one else does that but you.
Really? that’s your comeback?? Again, just because you don’t curse at someone doesn’t mean you’re not insulting them.. Whenever you see me doing that is at the usual suspect here, the instigators and baiters like you and other. when someone new comes in here i treat them with respect, and if i don’t like what they say i move on, you and a few other feel the need to disrespect them just because you feel entilte because joe D lets you post your garbage ass articles in here from time to time.. Learn how to respect at least the new people you FDB
You need to grow up and grow a pair if you think that me calling someone’s point ridiculous and absurd is insulting. You think it’s insulting to call someone’s point ridiculous, and then turn around and actually insult the person. You win.
Hey Alex, when are you going to admit that my acronym is better?
Foolish Uneducated Childish Kid-Under Pressure
” a true class act would’ve said listen, let me go, i forego my salary and we move on like a happy couple. THAT would’ve been acceptable even by the MLBPA, he could’ve deferred his contract using the “I did not wanna play for NY” excuse”
Do you know why the Alex Rodriguez to the Red Sox deal fell through before the Yankees got him?
Okay this is getting laughable. First Jessep tries to school someone against hating on your own players, now you trying to school someone on being classy. LOL I know it’s snowing outside, but I didn’t realize it was snowing in Hell.
Good job missing the point. I can always count on you to be aggressively obtuse.
Unfortunately, until there’s a player with balls as big as Curt Flood to challenge the system, the MLBPA wont allow any players to be a class act even if they wanted to. They call themselves a union and unions are there to protect a members rights and ensure he works in a good and safe environment. The MLBPA is just there to ensure escalating salaries, escalating benefits, and escalating chunks of the MLB marketing pie. They call themselves a union but it’s really an agency run by lawyers and agents. They couldn’t give a dam about labor laws and they never support any other labor unions when they go on strike. Sadly, most players have small balls, and they have neither the guts or courage to challenge them in court for interfering in what ever financial agreement they come to with the team they play for.