New York Mets: Financial Woes Preventing Team from Parting with Jason Bay

It looked like a great signing in the 2010 offseason.

The New York Mets, trying to erase the stench of a 70-92 season in 2009, signed outfielder Jason Bay to a four-year, $66 million contract on Dec. 29, 2009.

Merry Christmas, Mets fans—or so it appeared at the time. After all, Bay was coming off a year in which he hit 36 home runs and batted in 119 runs for the Boston Red Sox in 2009. Prior to coming to the Mets, the two-time All-Star had four seasons in which he hit at least 30 home runs and batted in 100 runs.

Now, one Bernie Madoff scandal later, and as lackluster a two years into Bay's contract as we could have imagined, it is time that the Mets just let Bay go. In 95 games played in 2010 (his season was cut short due to a concussion), Bay managed to hit only six home runs, knock in 47 runs and hit for a .259 average—all career lows.

It did not get any better in 2011. Bay played in 123 games, hit 12 home runs, knocked in 57 runs and hit for a .245 average. 

Now 33 years old, Mets fans are well past frustration and head-scratching with Jason Bay. They just want him gone. They only problem is, the Mets cannot do it. Bay still has over $30 million coming to him over the next two seasons. And in case you have not heard, the Mets have had some financial difficulties lately.

Bay has twice as many strikeouts as hits this season (five hits to 11 strikeouts in 27 at-bats). Fans wondering if the Citi Field dimensions were having an adverse effect on Bay's psyche were looking for an excuse. Bay was not hitting on the road, either. Fans also wondering if Bay could not get the job done under the bright lights of New York were looking for more excuses. Bay had career highs in home runs and RBI's his only season in Boston, also a major market.

This year, the Citi Field fences have been moved up. Bay, a pull hitter, will at least on the surface look to have more of an opportunity to hit some home runs.

The question remains, though, can he do it? Does Bay have anything left in the tank, or has this been just such a bad experiment that it is time to cut Bay loose? It is a question not worth pondering, however, as again, the Mets are in not in a financial position to let Bay go, and with the amount of money left on his contract, no other team would be willing to trade for him.

The Mets payroll this year is $93,357,465. In 2011, it was $142.8 million. That is a dropoff off over $50 million dollars. Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson revealed earlier this year that the Mets lost over $70 million last season. The Mets have cut ticket prices for the third straight season. The Maddoff scandal and declining team revenue streams are the biggest obstacles for the Mets right now, and the sole reason that they cannot ship Bay out of Queens.

Bay jammed his finger over the weekend against the Philadelphia Phillies. It is not a serious injury, and X-rays came back negative. It is too early to write off Jason Bay in 2012.

But if the last two seasons have taught us anything, it is that we should not expect much from Bay this season. The day Jason Bay signs with another team will benefit all parties—the Mets, the fans and most of all Bay, who perhaps, more than any player in baseball, needs a fresh start somewhere else.