Forget Matt Holliday, Jason Bay Deserves an Extension!

Many a fan has been looking forward to the 2009-2010 offseason ever since the 2009 season started, mainly due to an equally talented, if not better, free agent class than last offseason's.

This winter the big fish to land for teams looking for offensive help was first baseman Mark Teixeira. Tex, as he is known, eventually landed a mammoth contract with the New York Yankees after a bidding process in which he was rumored to be considering offers from Boston, Baltimore, and Washington, among others.

With regards to this coming winter, left fielder Matt Holliday is the marquee name atop the free agent class. While it is plausible and understandable that any of Major League Baseball's 30 teams would want to bring in the vastly talented Holliday, many, including myself, have at some point speculated that Holliday is a perfect fit for the Red Sox.

While as recently as three months ago I speculated that the Red Sox should consider going after Holliday, I now think the Red Sox should take the opposite road by locking up Jason Bay to a long-term contract.

No offense intended to Holliday, but his struggles at the plate are likely due to two contributing factors. For one, Holliday finds himself in the middle of Oakland's anemic offense, hitting behind slumping Orlando Cabrera and "protected" by Jason Giambi.

As if Holliday's supporting cast isn't bad enough, he also gets the less-than-desirable privilege of playing half the season at The Coliseum, named very rightfully. The place is cavernous, and hitting a home run here is quite the feat, no matter whose bat it flies from.

This, just a year after hitting around sluggers Brad Hawpe, Todd Helton, Garrett Atkins, Troy Tulowitzki, and speedster Willy Taveras, playing 81 games a year at hitter friendly Coors Field.

Furthermore, Holliday has always had suspect numbers away from Coors Field. While establishing himself as a .300 hitter as well as a threat to hit 30 home runs and drive in 100 runs for a season, becoming one of the most feared hitters in the National League, Holliday's home/road numbers do real justice to show how he's hitting.

Home (career): .351/.418/.634, 499 hits, 109 hits, 109 doubles, 86 home runs, 322 RBI

Away (career): .281/.349/.454, 388 hits, 84 doubles, 47 home runs, 187 RBI

All this with Holliday having played 377 home games and 358 games in a road jersey, a difference of just 63 plate appearances.

This year for the A's, Holliday has hit .271 with five home runs and 26 RBI. Not bad in the least, but at this rate he is on track for 21 home runs, which would be a drop-off from his 2008 numbers, which were also a drop-off from his 2007 numbers.

Obviously being surrounded by bats like Kevin Youkilis, Mike Lowell, Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz, and Jacoby Ellsbury would help Holliday thrive with the Red Sox and at Fenway Park, but all one can do is speculate.

In this young 2009 season, Jason Bay has shown us many signs that all point toward stardom. Bay, 30, has long been an underrated product of the Pittsburgh Pirates, but is now getting some well-deserved publicity because of his great success in filling in Manny Ramirez's shows for the Red Sox.

Right from the beginning of Spring Training and into the regular season, reports of Bay were all positive, noting how comfortable he was in Boston and with the Red Sox.

It's showing.

This year, Bay is hitting .301/.433/.657, with a team-leading 13 home runs and 44 RBI, which is currently second in the American League. At his current rate, Bay is on pace to establish career highs with 51 home runs and 173 RBI.

If Bay really does put up those kinds of numbers, it will all but guarantee him a massive free agent contract. Whatever kind of year he does end up having, I believe the best fit for both sides would be for the Red Sox to bring back Bay.

While contract extension talks between the two sides fizzled, neither side has ruled out an extension, either. Bay is obviously comfortable and Happy in Boston, and bringing great offense to the table.

Unlike former left fielder Manny Ramirez, Bay has also shown hustle in the outfield and the ability to make plays that Manny simply could not. Bay is not a big personality like Man Ram, and doesn't have any alter egos.

Bay will not make demands to be traded "just to" and won't be shoving any elderly secretaries to the ground over free tickets. While Manny recently tested positive for a banned substance (I refuse to refer to it as a PED because I am still doubtful as to whether it actually enhances performance or is just something used to enhance the effect of other PEDs), Bay is someone who will not bring any negative publicity to the Red Sox.

Heck, Bay is a guy who hardly gets any publicity. That's only the best part, though.

In order to distance themselves from the Manny Ramirez era and everything surrounding the narcissistic slugger, it is imperative for the Red Sox to sign someone with youth and quickness who is willing to put in effort on the field, but without sacrificing the sexy offensive numbers brought by Ramirez.

Jason Bay not being a headcase only makes him a better fit for the Red Sox.

You've heard my argument, Theo. Now make it happen!