A season removed from Manny Ramirez, the Boston Red Sox have taken a liking to their new left fielder, Jason Bay. So much so that baseball sources say the Sox may resign Bay before the start of the season.

A Boston Globe article cites a soft market for outfielders as the reason the front office is interested in resigning Bay. If Bay were to resign, he would be forgoing his first dance with arbitration.

Signing with the Sox makes more sense for the Red Sox than it does for Bay. With Matt Holliday likely to test free agency after the 2009 season, the Red Sox would be perfect suitors to the power hitting left fielder.

If Bay signed a long term contract at his current market value, he would be excellent trade bait to land another big time bat to cure the potential offensive woes of the Red Sox. An example would be Prince Fielder, whom the Sox have been pining for.

However, this makes little sense for Bay to sign.

Bay could put up phenomenal numbers in the band-box that is Fenway Park, compared to his numbers in the cavernous PNC park. Bay put up 31 homers and 101 RBI in more games in a pitcher's ballpark.  He went from the three hitter in a terrible Pirates' offense to a six or seven hitter with the Red Sox, where most of his RBI chances were stolen by Pedroia, Youkilis, and other Sox.

Bay could contribute over 35 homers and 130 RBI depending on obvious variables. On top of that, this may  be be Bay's one chance at a pay-day contract.  He will be 30 years old this season.

If the Red Sox and Theo work their magic and sign Bay before opening day, it would be an exclamation point to an already excellent off-season.  All this, despite losing out on big-ticket free agents.