By Dave Sheinin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Oddly quiet all off-season, the New York Mets finally made their long-awaited answer to the significant moves of their crosstown and divisional rivals -- that would be the Yankees and Phillies, respectively -- agreeing to terms with free agent left fielder Jason Bay on a four-year deal believed to be worth around $65 million.
The deal, first reported by WFAN's Mike Francesa, remains unofficial pending a physical. Bay had been seeking a guaranteed fifth year from his suitors -- which included the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels, Seattle Mariners and San Francisco Giants -- but had to settle for four guaranteed years plus a fifth-year club option that would vest if Bay hits certain, as-yet-unspecified durability thresholds.
Earlier this month, the Red Sox, for whom Bay hit .267 with 36 homers and 119 RBI in 2009, turned away from Bay over his demands for a fifth guaranteed year and replaced him with free agent Mike Cameron. The Mets' offer, meantime, appears to have sat unchanged for more than two weeks before Bay finally accepted.
Bay, 31, will bring much-needed power to a Mets lineup that finished last in the majors in home runs (95) in 2009 -- although, like other free agents, he may have initially balked at the thought of hitting in the Mets' cavernous new Citi Field. He has hit 30 or more homers and driven in 100 or more runs in four of the last five seasons.