I've read in a number of sources today that it would appear that Jason Bay's time in Boston is over. Bay has rejected Boston's latest contract offer and is currently considering superior offers from other teams. Boston was considered an ideal destination for Bay, whose pull hitting works well in Fenway Park and whose overall creepiness (this guy definitely drives around in a white van) blended seamlessly into the Boston landscape.
There wouldn't appear to be many good options to replace Bay. I think most people believe that Holliday would not succeed in the AL, especially the AL East. I'm sorry, he sucked in Oakland, and there's no excuse for that. It has been said that, in Oakland, the pressure of having to be 'the guy' got to him. But when you're the best player on a team going nowhere fast, your only job is to pad your stats. There is no pressure to win or be 'the guy.' Holliday is an outfielder, you really think the team's success was riding on his shoulders? He's not that good a hitter, even at his best. And Oakland fans could care less if their team wins or loses. They're Cali fans, and Cali fans are nothing like AL East fans. In Cali you could go 0-1 Million in the post-season, single-handedly blow the World Series by yelling out what pitch was coming to the opposing players during every at bat, and the average Cali fan would still be like, "oh well, maybe next year. Ooh, it's sunny again." An AL East fan will threaten you with violence if he notices you're not shifting your weight efficiently with your new leg kick. Holliday would not be a good fit for Boston, which pretty much leaves nobody with even the potential to make-up for Bay's production.
Boston is right not to give Bay the five year deal that he's seeking. It would be good in the short-run, but that's one of those contracts you regret later and is impossible to move unless you're willing to pay most of the salary (hi Mike Lowell). With the Yankees having seemingly improved with the acquisition of Granderson, with Damon still a possibility to rejoin, and with the Yankees still looking to add another starting pitcher, it is unclear how the Sox plan to be competitive in the coming season in what should be a tough AL East (the Rays are still there guys). The more this offseason progresses, the more it looks like the Sox, who are a smart organization, are building more for 2011 than for 2010.
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9 comments:
In the short-term this is good for the Yankees if they don't go after Holliday.
I agree. Conceivably, it may be a good thing for the Yankees for the next 2-3 years.
The 2010 Red Sox look alot like the 2008 Yankees did. Loads of question marks and dead money with few options in a down free agent class.
They look to me like they have already made the decision not to try and fix their problems this year and rather to wait for their bad contracts (Ortiz, Lowell, etc.) to come off the books.
Look to them to compete hard next offseason (Mauer anyone?)
I do hope they resign Jason Bay though, I think he is heading downhill fast and in 2 years time will be a serious liability especially in the field.
It will be interesting to see whether they decide to make a push for Bay. Right now, the only player that they are reported as having any sort of serious interest in is Adrian Beltre. The Sox have never given in on their price before so I don't see them doing it with Bay, but who knows, times are hard and there's not a lot out there. Building a more defensive minded team with less pop isn't going to get it done in the AL East.
I suspect Mauer gets extended by Minnesota. They're contenders now, and they can't lose him. My guess is they'll hand him a blank check, say write down a number, and then cash it, but you have to play for us forever.
I agree with you on Mauer but until he signs that extention, I think both the Yanks and Sox will be factoring him in to their plans. Along with Doc, Lee and the other free agents in the 2010 off-season.
If they don't go with Bay, it can only be Holliday. If they end up with neither, they aint going to make the playoffs.
I think you're right about the play-off chances without a Bay-type hitter, but I suspect they may end up with neither.
I agree with you about Bay, but not Holliday. When Holliday was at his very worst in Oakland, he was a 120 OPS+ hitter, which is like a good Damon season. When he is at his best, he is up there with the best hitters in baseball. I think he would do fine in the AL East, especially in Fenway.
Bay is the poor man's Holliday - Bay is older, not as good a hitter, and a much worse fielder than Holliday. If you're going to break the bank on a LF, you might as well go for Holliday, and I think both the Yankees and Sox know that.
You might be right, but it looks like neither team wants to break the bank for a left fielder. The Yankees want Damon back on the cheap, or they'll likely move forward with Melky over there. They definetely don't want to commit a ton of money to a left fielder while they're still thinking of a Roy Halladay, or of lowering the payroll. The Red Sox seem to be commited to the 2011 season, though if the 4 year $60 million rumored offer is true, then that would be the most expensive contract on their team.
And Oakland fans could care less if their team wins or loses. They're Cali fans, and Cali fans are nothing like AL East fans. In Cali you could go 0-1 Million in the post-season, single-handedly blow the World Series by yelling out what pitch was coming to the opposing players during every at bat, and the average Cali fan would still be like, "oh well, maybe next year. Ooh, it's sunny again." An AL East fan will threaten you with violence if he notices you're not shifting your weight efficiently with your new leg kick.
I know this is months and months later but el. oh. el. I actually DID laugh out loud at this.
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