Report: Red Sox Negotiations with Bay Unproductive During Break

Talks over the All-Star break between the Red Sox and Jason Bay regarding a contract extension were brief and largely unproductive, WEEI.com reports.

Bay is set to become one of more than 25 free-agent outfielders in
the offseason. Of that crop, Bay was the only one present at Tuesday
night’s All-Star Game.

Bay and his camp have reportedly not seen eye-to-eye with the Red
Sox regarding free-agent value in the upcoming offseason. With big-name
free agents like Bobby Abreu signing for short money last offseason, the Sox are being cautious before breaking the bank on anyone.

Meanwhile, Bay and his camp have been seeking a contract for three or four years at $14 million per year, according to WEEI.

“I’m still waiting,” Bay told the Boston Herald. “I’m not really
taking a stance one way or another. If something comes up which makes
sense, great, but it hasn’t yet. I’m not hard-lining it. I’m not
saying, ‘If I don’t get something done by this or then … .’ That
doesn’t do anyone any good. I’m in the exact same position I was three
months ago. Nothing’s changed.”

Signing a player to an extension in July is something the Red Sox did with Josh Beckett in 2006. On July 19 of that year, after Beckett pitched eight shutout innings against the Kansas City Royals, the team announced a three-year extension.

Whether or not the Sox can be successful with Bay appears in doubt, though Bay made it clear that he enjoys playing in Boston.

“We’ve just celebrated our 520-something straight sellout,” Bay told the St. Louis Dispatch. “The atmosphere is second to none. Boston is one of those places people like to play.”

Since coming to Boston, Bay has hit .272 with 29 home runs and 109
RBIs in 135 games. He also thrived under the postseason spotlight,
batting .341 with three homers and nine RBIs in 11 games.