Brian Cashman was fortunate that passing over Johan Santana yielded CC Sabathia. Omar Minaya can’t play the same game with his offense. His stars are in their late prime, and the young homegrown talent is entering early prime years. There aren’t many options for the Mets. The farm system isn’t conducive to trades and rolling the dice on free agency is a dangerous game. Those that want the Mets to pass today in hope of a better tomorrow are advocating a plan that will lead the team into obscurity. It’s almost criminal to waste two homegrown gems like Wright and Reyes on that kind of philosophy. Bay doesn’t completely close the gap with the Phillies, but he makes the Mets better. Paper doesn’t win games, players do. Adding Bay, a decent pitcher, and some role players will put the Mets right there for a playoff spot. That is, unless you believe 40% of their starting lineup will be injured again. If that’s the case you can cross off 2010 right now. - Mike Silva
As for Bay, he, too, can thank his agent, in this case Joe Urbon, for pricing him out of Boston, a righty hitting-friendly ballpark/and virtual guarantee of the playoffs every year to, very likely, a pitcher's paradise in Citi Field and a Mets team that, even with him, looks to be no better than a third-place club in the NL East. At least the Mets seem to realize that Urbon, after losing the Red Sox, has no more market for Bay, especially after the Seattle Mariners, who were bidders early on, acquired Milton Bradley on Friday to fill their last remaining need of an outfield bat. - NYDN
While Holliday has obvious advantages to Bay, especially in the National League, where he has a higher OPS (.948 to .891) and higher batting average (.322 to .281), plus better defensive metrics, the Mets believe Bay would be a better and quicker deal for them. They also like him in their ballpark because he's a pull-hitter with loft, while they see Holliday as a gap-hitter whose power numbers could be impacted by Citi Field. But with Bay not signing as quickly as they hoped, they have been engaging Holliday, as well, just in case. A report in WEEI in Boston said there was a mystery team offering five years for Bay. But that team remains a mystery since the Mets are obviously out there. - SI
Bill Madden of the New York Daily News writes that Jason Bay can thank his agent, Joe Urbon, for pricing him out of a good situation in Boston. With no obvious bidders remaining for Bay besides the New York Mets, Madden says that Urbon returned to the Red Sox to see if they would revisit negotiations with Bay. The Sox, however, having signed Mike Cameron, no longer appear interested. Madden thinks that Bay's reluctance to accept the Mets' four-year, $64MM offer suggests the outfielder is wary of playing in Citi Field for a team that "even with him, looks to be no better than a third-place club." Newsday's Ken Davidoff agrees that Citi Field could be a factor, as the Mets pursue Bay and other free agents. Davidoff points out that, statistically, the park doesn't seem all that bad for hitters, but it's hard to shake that perception. - mlbtraderumors
March 24, 2002: Traded by the Montreal Expos with Jimmy Serrano to the New York Mets for Lou Collier.
July 31, 2002: Traded by the New York Mets with Josh Reynolds (minors) and Bobby Jones to the San Diego Padres for Jason Middlebrook and Steve Reed.
baseball-reference
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