Bay vs. Holliday

[Dojji]

Just curious... who are the starting three Yankee outfieders next year as of now?

 

Did they re-sign Nady? Otherwise I'm thinking it's Mekly-Gardner-Swisher left to right.

[yankees228]

Did they re-sign Nady? Otherwise I'm thinking it's Mekly-Gardner-Swisher left to right.

 

I think they might have made a trade during the winter meetings.

[Keeper]

Did they re-sign Nady? Otherwise I'm thinking it's Mekly-Gardner-Swisher left to right.

 

Don't forget Granderson.

[rhet]

Nady Melky Gardner Swisher Damon Matsui Granderson - that's 7 guys. So 3 will probably go, assuming they don't get in on Holliday in which case 4 would have to go.

 

Matsui, Damon and Nady? And maybe Melky?

[Cocos Disciples]

Nady Melky Gardner Swisher Damon Matsui Granderson - that's 7 guys. So 3 will probably go, assuming they don't get in on Holliday in which case 4 would have to go.

 

Matsui, Damon and Nady? And maybe Melky?

 

They really only have four guys under contract. Matsui, Damon and Nady are FAs, and I'd be shocked if Nady is resigned.

[SoxSport]

Looks like Bay's agent's strategy is to drive the price up, and maybe come back to Boston with a final number? Trouble is, the Red Sox are not a money machine like the Yankees. They walk away if they don't like the numbers. I don't think his agent can hunt that dog for too long.

[jacksonianmarch]

I dont think he has any intention of giving Boston a hometown discount. Hell, why should he? He's been underpaid per the league norms for the past few yrs and this really is his last chance to strike it rich. He will get 5 yrs from someone, and if I were him, I'd hold out until I did. Maybe he should give the red sox the last right of refusal, but that makes good business sense since the sox are in the second best baseball market in the world. Bay will end up with 5yrs $80 million or so.

[yeszir]

Apparently SF is prepared to offer Bay the exact contract he wants, but he doesn't want to play there. Does that factor into the hometown discount theory for Boston?

[jacksonianmarch]

I bet he gives Boston the right of last refusal. That being said, SF would be a good place for him. Good pitching, a weak division and a 1-2 of him and Sandoval could be very, very nice.

[Marcellus Wallace]

Apparently SF is prepared to offer Bay the exact contract he wants' date=' but he doesn't want to play there. Does that factor into the hometown discount theory for Boston?[/quote']

 

well bay wants to play in seattle more than boston, so I could see even more of a discount there if any.

[Spudboy]

Why would an NL team want Bay if he is projected to be a DH in two years?

[TheKilo]

Why would an NL team want Bay if he is projected to be a DH in two years?

 

Excellent question, but remember, Brian Sabean is a moron.

[Keeper]

Statistically speaking, Bay would be better off staying in Boston than going to Seattle or San Fran. Weaker divisions, yes, but those parks aren't hitter-friendly. Still, I doubt that has much to do with his decision making.

[Peter Backgammons]

Boston isn't Bay's hometown. I don't see him giving a hometown discount anywhere. I dont even believe in them. Jason Bay will take the money, like all baseball players.

[TheMino007]

per Foxsports.com, Bay has rejected the Red Sox offer of 4 year 60 million dollars, I don't know why the Sox would offer him a contract which he had already turned down a month ago. Anyway, it looks like that 5th year will be the deal maker in the contract negations. Bay's agent countered with 6 years between 16-18 million per year. From what I read the Mets are offering Bay a back loaded contract where he would make 10 mill in his first year and then increasing until 20 million in his final year.

[riverside sluggers]

The Sox FO are doing whatever they can to make it easier for Bay to leave town. They also proposed same deal back at the trading deadline

[TheMino007]

Is a 5th year really too much to ask? I mean could we save some money on Bay if we offered him 5 years 75 million? If Bay is really looking for a 5th year, maybe he would only take 15 mill per 5 years as opposed to 17-18 per

[riverside sluggers]

If they could offer Drew 5 years at age 31... they cant do the same for Bay at age 31?

[CoachC.]

Also, the Mets hold the #7 pick, which is protected.

[Plumpamania]

If they could offer Drew 5 years at age 31... they cant do the same for Bay at age 31?

 

And has JD Drew panned out as the OBP force mashing 30 HR's that he was when we signed him? While Bay was a monster offensively, he also disappeared in July and much of August. Also Bay is a defensive liability. If I'm paying $17/$18 million per, I'd rather go after Holliday rather than Bay primarily due to the 3 year age difference.

[Rdsxmbnt]

And has JD Drew panned out as the OBP force mashing 30 HR's that he was when we signed him? While Bay was a monster offensively' date=' he also disappeared in July and much of August. Also Bay is a defensive liability. If I'm paying $17/$18 million per, I'd rather go after Holliday rather than Bay primarily due to the 3 year age difference.[/quote']

 

Wow you're back, its been a long time.

 

In agreement with you here also. Holliday seems to be a similar offensive player with better defense and better long term projection (over the course of the contract) due to the age difference

[riverside sluggers]

Its not a given that Holliday is going to the Sox. Id take Bay or Holliday gladly... but there is a possibility that they wont have either player

 

And has JD Drew panned out as the OBP force mashing 30 HR's that he was when we signed him? While Bay was a monster offensively' date=' he also disappeared in July and much of August. Also Bay is a defensive liability. If I'm paying $17/$18 million per, I'd rather go after Holliday rather than Bay primarily due to the 3 year age difference.[/quote']

 

Drew was never known to be a 30HR smasher. Moreso 20 +/- HRs. Hes reached 25 or more HRs in a season just twice

[riverside sluggers]

 

A team has made Bay an offer exceeding 4 years

[TheMino007]

I don't really have a preference, as long as the Sox sign one of them. Holliday is the better player, but Bay has proved he can play in Boston and handle the pressure. If the Sox don't re-sign Bay I'm not so sure that they will pursue Holliday b/c he will be more expensive than Bay and probably demand a longer contract in terms of years.

[SCM33]

Source: Sox won't offer fifth year, Bay read to move on.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/mlb/news/story?id=4737363

[SoxSport]

The Red Sox have to be more flexible if they are going to sign ANY top FA. Baseball is a game of wasted $millions. Better to waste $millions on a Bay than a Lugo.

 

They have to understand their fans pay top dollar for tickets and they expect a winner. No easy task in a division with the free-spending Yankees. You can't be stingy.

[Cocos Disciples]

I think the Bay vs. Holliday debate can be summed up in this link.

[riverside sluggers]

Foxsports

After Bay, what next for Red Sox? — 6:38 p.m.

 

The big question, now that free-agent left fielder Jason Bay appearsheaded out of Boston, is what the Red Sox's next move will be.

 

Some rival executives insist free agent Matt Holliday is the Sox's preferred target. Other sources, however, say the Red Sox will shun Holliday in favor of building a more athletic, defensive-oriented club.

 

Adrian Beltre at third base. Mike Cameron in left field. And perhaps a starting pitcher to further enhance the Red Sox's quest for better run prevention.

 

Free-agent right-hander John Lackey would appear to be a long shot; the Red Sox want to keep right-hander Josh Beckett, and it would be difficult to sign both for between $80 million and $100 million.

 

The Sox, however, could wait for one of the second-tier starters to fall to a desirable price range or perhaps take a one-year flier on right-hander Ben Sheets.

 

Beltre would appear the logical replacement at third for Mike Lowell, whose trade to the Rangers could become official next week. Cameron, who turns 37 on Jan. 8, would sign a short-term deal, leaving the Red Sox flexible enough to pursue a left fielder in next year's free-agent class, Carl Crawford or even Jayson Werth.

 

Neither Beltre nor Cameron is Holliday — or, for that matter, Bay. Still, both hit for power, and their overall value to the Red Sox might be greater than Holliday's if one combines their offense, defense and base-running — along with their respective price tags.

 

The Cardinals would appear to be the immediate beneficiaries if the Red Sox truly are not pursuing Holliday, but other teams — perhaps even the Yankees — could jump into the bidding if the Sox went in another direction.

[TheMino007]

If the Sox wouldn't dish out the $ Bay wanted, why would they for Holliday, who will probably cost more?

[riverside sluggers]

At the very least, 6 years/$120