Jason Bay is supposedly “moving on” from the Boston Red Sox. Who does his agent think he is? Scott Boras? Come on. Why in the heck would Jason Bay WANT to leave 65 million on the table to play in a park that he would continue to dominate, playing on a team getting ready to load up on pitching, and potentially swing a deal for someone like Adrian Gonzalez. Why would he want to leave knowing his best chance at winning a world series or many world series’  would be Boston. He’s not going to accept the same deal from the Mets, and I don’t know if Seattle is prepared to offer him 5 years 75 million after landing FA to be pitcher Cliff Lee, as well as starting up extension talks with King Felix. The counter argument to that would be to give Bay 5 years 75 million which would entice King Felix to want to stay. I just don’t think Boston would walk away from Bay for Matt Holliday who would get 50 million or so more than Bay when they’ll both provide the same kind of pop in the middle of the order playing the same position. Sorry for all you defense guys out there, playing left field for the Red Sox is probably the easiest position in all of baseball. There’s no reason for Boston to not do everything they can to bring this guy back if they want to compete with the Yankees while not blowing up the payroll.

70 million for Bay over 5 years sure beats 110 over 6 for Holliday. A trade for Adrian Gonzo and then an extension of something along Bay’s money would make some sense. Signing Aroldis Chapmen to 15-25 million would make sense. You could let Josh Beckett walk  after 2010 if you have too in favor of Casey Kelly or Mike Bowden which would give you a top 5 of- Lackey/Lester/Dice K/Kelly/Bowden/Chapmen in 2011. You could save some money by not bringing back Papelbon and moving Daniel Bard to the closers roll. David Ortiz won’t be resigned so his money is off the books. Mike Lowell’s deal will be off the books, so there will be a stream of revenue on it’s way in as the Red Sox are a money making machine. So again I ask- if your Jason Bay- is that extra 10 million over 1 year worth it? And I ask again- if your the Red Sox, and you want to compete with the Yankees who I think are still the frontrunners to land Holliday, is 1 year and 5-10 million worth losing Bay? This relationship makes to much sense for Boston to go elsewhere. If Lackey and Chapmen both sign, Adrian Gonzalez makes to much sense to NOT give up Buchholz and Bowden/Casey Kelly. Is giving Adrian Beltre 50-60 million to play third worth it? I don’t think so. I think that would be a horrible move. Julio Lugo horrible. Let the ripple effects begin.