It has been reported by SI.com that the Mets have reached an agreement with All-Star OF Jason Bay.  No details of the signing were listed just yet as the official announcement will come next week as well as a physical. 

There are literally no details of the signing as of now but I had to get this out there.  I had a feeling the Mets would sign him, for one Bay was definitely going after 5-years and a lot more money than mid market teams were willing to pay him so his choices were pretty narrow.  It was either the Red Sox, Yankees or Mets.  The Mets are in desperate need of a productive OF so I can guarantee this contract is at least 5 years, maybe 6.  The Mets probably overpaid and I’m thinking the deal will fall somewhere between $16-$19 million per year.

UPDATE:  ESPN has reported the agreement is a 4-year/$66 million deal with a vesting 5th year option that could bring the deal to just over $80.  Hmm, didn’t the Red Sox offer basically that exact contract?  I think Jason Bay and the Red Sox had a falling out and no matter what was reported the last couple of days about a possible reunion with the Sox we all know there was NO SHOT at that happening.  Bay made a big stink about getting a 5th year in the deal and this deal with the Mets isn’t even a guaranteed 5th year, but a vesting option (which I’m sure he will reach, but you never know).  So it turns out the Mets are paying Bay approximetely $16.5 million per year which is more like settling for Bay who definitely wanted a deal in the $18 million range.

Grade for the Mets: B+; Yes they paid a hell of a lot for Jason Bay but everyone knew they were going to.  They desperately needed a power hitting OF who hasn’t really ever been injured and they got that in Bay.  He will definitely be productive in NY but with a bigger ball park his 36 HR total from 2009 will certainly drop down to somewhere around 26-28 range.  If a team like the Orioles made this signing I would have given it a C but since the Mets basically have an unlimited payroll, they got Bay on the cheap!