Memories of Jason Bay

[Ceetar]

JASON BAY AND METS AGREE TO PART WAYS Agreement Grants Bay Unrestricted Free Agency FLUSHING, N.Y., November 7, 2012 � 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.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

wOw. Now let's do the same for Santana.

[Ceetar]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: wOw. Now let's do the same for Santana.

no.

[Ceetar]

Besides the ridiculous level of suck, Jason Bay did play hard. I can recall more than one occasion where he made some very nice defensive plays that got him banged up in the process. I wish him well as long as it's not the NL East or the Yankees.

[Farmer Ted]

His face never met an outfield wall it didn't like.

This should help address the financial flexibility question. Perhaps he got a Bobby Bonilla deal?

[Ceetar]

Farmer Ted wrote: His face never met an outfield wall it didn't like. This should help address the financial flexibility question. Perhaps he got a Bobby Bonilla deal?

I doubt something that extreme, the Mets don't have a Madoff to invest the money with that we're aware of. (and if they're getting that kind of return, spend some more of it will ya?) But I imagine, especially given the timing, that it frees up this year a bit.

[Edgy MD]

More interesting than memories is what this ultimately means.

A pessimistic point of view: Resigning Wright and Dickey was explicitly laid out by Alderson as priorities 1 and 1B for the offseason. Maybe moving on to this complex maneuver suggest negotiations are going nowhere on those fronts.

An optimistic point of view: Demonstrating competitive seriousness was certainly hinted at by both Wright and Dickey as something of a pre-requisite for getting them to sign. That's largely a cliche that most everybody invokes, but maybe shedding Bay is Sandy demonstrating the organization's competitive seriousness.

[Vic Sage]

i don't know that we have any more flexibility. Why would Bay give up a penny of what his contract gives him? To be released now rather than April? He's going to get a lowball offer (if any) no matter where he goes, and getting released early doesn't change that.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

It's a weird situation. I am sure he's not walking away without a penny of what's owed him, the union wouldn't like that.

[Ceetar]

Vic Sage wrote: i don't know that we have any more flexibility. Why would Bay give up a penny of what his contract gives him? To be released now rather than April? He's going to get a lowball offer (if any) no matter where he goes, and getting released early doesn't change that.

deferred payments? Even if the Mets decide to pay him 10 this year and 10 next year, that's a ton more flexibility for them and another million for Bay. I'm sure they worked out something.

Also, I'm not sure if the Mets released him if anyone else was allowed to pay him more than the league minimum. This, however slim he sees it, gives him the opportunity to negotiate.

[Gwreck]

Bay was owed $13 million for 2013, plus a $3 buyout of a 2014 option year. (There was also a vesting option for 2014 based on plate appearances but we can safely assume that would never have happened).

Maybe the Mets made it clear to Jason that he'd never be more than a pinch hitter and, I don't know, they saved a million or two by just releasing him now?

[Edgy MD]

Yeah, I mean, he shouldn't walk away with any less, but buyouts happen all the time, and somehow both parties are able to convince themselves it's to their advantage.

[Ceetar]

Gwreck wrote: Bay was owed $13 million for 2013, plus a $3 buyout of a 2014 option year. (There was also a vesting option for 2014 based on plate appearances but we can safely assume that would never have happened). Maybe the Mets made it clear to Jason that he'd never be more than a pinch hitter and, I don't know, they saved a million or two by just releasing him now?

$16 + 3 actually.

reports are that the Mets will pay him all of that, i guess it's just a matter of when/how.

[seawolf17]

Nishioka walked away from his contract with the Twins. So there's precedent there. But yep, I doubt Bay's leaving any money on the table. Maybe in the short term, but I'd bet it's likely a Bonilla-type deal, which I'm okay with.

[nymr83]

Good news!

Memories of Bay.... Yeah, I got nothing. He tried hard on defense, I just wish his bat hadn't vanished when he signed here.
I don't see why he wouldn't have left ANY money on the table. He was owed 13+3, maybe he decided he'd rather take 12 or 13 and try to play every day somewhere with a team that isn't ddown on him.

[TransMonk]

My memory of Jason Bay will be that he was one of the highest-paid, lowest-output guys the Mets have EVER signed.

I'm sure he's a nice guy and a hard worker, but I'd rather him have been a prick that produced.

[Guest themetfairy]

I'm always going to pull for guys from the Pacific Northwest. But this was just a horrible situation - every time he'd seemingly get on track, he'd injure himself anew.

The man tried, and you could see the pain on his face.

Sorry that things didn't work out better Jason - we wanted to love you!

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

The memory that sticks out for me was his getting hurt late in spring training, only a few days before the 2011 season began. For as big a stiff as he was in 2010, at least you could look at the history of Met free agents in general, and at Bay's history in particular, and think a good year could still happen. In fact, one of the most persuasively hopeful themes of that whole offseason (I seem to remember Sandy Alderson saying as much) was the expectation we'd get some kind of normal season out of the guy. And just when it looked as though we might, BAM. Willie Harris is your opening day left fielder.

I don't even remember what the injury was but got-dam if I wasn't pissed at that. Sure enough that set the tone for another shitty season (his and ours) and probably should have gotten released back then.

The other things I recall about Bay: Reading an analysis at Baseball Think Factory predicting he'd flop as a Met as he'd aged rapidly (it concluded he'd already become a guess hitter whose success was mainly pulling HRs at the Monster). And being at the game when he bashed his skull for the second time this year, ruining what was about the peak of the 2012 season for the mets and serving as the worst opening act of REO Speedwagon's career.

[smg58]

TransMonk wrote: I'm sure he's a nice guy and a hard worker, but I'd rather him have been a prick that produced.

This.

[Farmer Ted]

He'll win the triple crown and a gold glove for the Nationals this year.

[Edgy MD]

Recent openers for REO

Copper Box:


Rob Drabkin:


Lois Carlson:
8mRr1vwVP0k

Mike Ingram:

[metirish]

Bay gets all his money....and it's a lot


CBS

Bay is getting all of the $21 million he was owed ($16 million for 2013, a $3-million buyout for 2014 and $2 million left on a signing bonus), CBSSports.com Insider Jon Heyman reports. Some of the payment is deferred, freeing up some money for the Mets this offseason. Sources tell CBSSports.com senior writer Danny Knobler that the deferral is over a relatively short period of time, meaning it won't linger on the team's books like Bobby Bonilla's contract.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/eye-on-baseball/20869030/mets-jason-bay-agree-to-part-ways

[Benjamin Grimm]

I can't see this as anything other than good news.

I imagine that one way or another, this will give the Mets some additional payroll flexibility. As some have said above, I doubt that this will cost Bay even a nickel, but maybe he agreed to take $100,000 per year for the next 190 years. Or even a million a year for the next 19 years. (I know, interest would have to factor into this too.) I guess I'm hoping this is like the Bobby Bonilla thing, only a lot less stupid.

I'm very curious to learn the details.

EDIT: metirish's post snuck in just ahead of mine.

[metsmarathon]

holy bleeping bleepity bleep! i'm flabbergasted. i feel like i'm being hoodwinked. how in tarnation did this just happen?

jason bay tried really really hard. too hard for his face. i'll miss him in a way. i'll also be inclined to pick him up in every fantasy league i play in, but only if he's super-duper cheap.

[metirish]

metsmarathon wrote: holy bleeping bleepity bleep! i'm flabbergasted. i feel like i'm being hoodwinked. how in tarnation did this just happen? .

me too, I thought Ceetar made it up for a lugh.

[Edgy MD]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I can't see this as anything other than good news.

Thus ending speculation that you and Howard Megdal are the same person.

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

I'm as happy as a little girl!!!

[G-Fafif]

One brief interlude of unsuck:

June 28, 2011 -- breaks the Mets' grand slam drought that dated back to August 1, 2009, by walloping a four-run four-bagger off Daniel Schlereth at Comerica Park; Carlos Beltran hits the next grand slam one inning later, Mets win, 14-2.

July 3, 2011:-- works two-out, three-two walk versus Mariano Rivera with Mets down a run in the bottom of the ninth, setting the stage to prevent MFY sweep. After Ronny Paulino singles him home for the tie, Bay drives in winner in the tenth off Hector Noesi. Mets win, 3-2.

Met him once, at Mets 2010 kids holiday party, spent five-ten minutes in conversation with a couple of other bloggers. Very affable, made me laugh when one of my blolleagues used the term "media" in an all-encompassing fashion. "You're media?" he asked. I spent the rest of his tenure feeling kind of bad about not being able to stand his presence. But it was intolerable by 2012.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

G-FAFIF noted:

June 28, 2011 -- breaks the Mets' grand slam drought that dated back to August 1, 2009, by walloping a four-run four-bagger off Daniel Schlereth at Comerica Park; Carlos Beltran hits the next grand slam one inning later, Mets win, 14-2.

I was in attendance for this, and explaining baseball strategy to my daughter. I noted that Schlereth would give the batter ahead of Bay nothing to hit because he would rather pitch to Bay, because Bay is a bum.

And, sure enough, Bay goes blammo, proving that Dad doesn't know as much as he thinks he does.

[Zvon]

There's a number of things I'd like to happen this off season. This was on the list.
Bye Bay. You're a hard worker and a good guy and blah, blah, blah, cya.