Update 7:20 PM – According to Rob Bradford of WEEI Sports, an unkown team has offered Jason Bay at least a five year deal.
According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, free agent outfielder Jason Bay has rejected the latest Red Sox offer.
Bay’s agent, Joe Urbon, sounded like he wasn’t hopeful that the Red Sox would get something done, but left open the possibility for further negotiations.
“We don’t agree with their evaluation of the player,” Urbon said. “Frankly, we have other offers on the table that are of greater interest to Jason.”
He went on to say that Jason Bay “was prepared to move on.”
I am assuming he turned down the widely reported 4 year $60 million dollar offer.
The Mets who reportedly offered $5 million dollars more, received no such rejection which would bode well for Minaya and the Mets.
On Friday, John Tomase of the Boston Herald reported that Joe Urbon made a counter offer to the Red Sox that was for six years and about $16-18MM annually. He also added,
Bay’s dead-pull right-handed power could be a fit for Citi Field, which is otherwise a power graveyard, as sluggers David Wright, Gary Sheffield and Carlos Beltran (10 homers apiece) learned last season.
The Angels and Mariners are among the other clubs showing interest, but they reportedly haven’t made any offers yet.
I suspect that the next move for Bay and Urbon would be a counter offer to the Mets, and of course I’m merely speculating, but it would seem plausible.
The prevailing theory is that whom ever offers Bay a fifth year first, will land the right handed slugger.
One other note – An earlier report that stated the Mets had made an offer to John Lackey is untrue according to Newsday’s David Lennon.
Contrary to some reports, Mets have not made an offer to John Lackey. Still focusing on Bay at the moment.
That’s all for now…
