New York Yankees: Should Bombers Sign Jason Bay to Incentive-Based Deal for 2013
November 7, 2012 · Doug Rush · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
We all know that Brian Cashman tries to improve the roster through bargain deals.
Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia, Eric Chavez and Raul Ibanez are just some of the players that he has picked up and gotten great results out of.
I have another suggestion for the Yankees to potentially look into for next season: Jason Bay.
Bay and the New York Mets agreed on a separation from his contract, making him a free agent this coming winter. Bay will get paid the remaining $21 million left on his deal on deferred money.
Because of the stipulations of his contract, Bay can sign for more than the league minimum on his next deal, but given how his last three seasons with the Mets have gone, not too many teams are going to be lining up to get Bay.
Here’s where the Yankees fit in.
They can sign Bay to a low-base salary but put incentives in the deal, so if Bay ends up being injured or just has an awful season, he’s not costing the Yankees a lot of money.
And with Bay, they could use him as a platoon outfielder and use him as a DH, especially if Raul Ibanez signs elsewhere next season.
Like I said before, the last three years with the Mets for Bay were not anything to brag about as he hit 26 home runs for the Mets in those three years, 12 of which came in 2011.
However, before he came to the Mets and the National League, Bay was an MVP candidate with the Boston Red Sox.
In his last season with Boston in 2009, Bay smacked 36 home runs and 119 RBI and finished seventh in the MVP voting.
In 2012, Bay only played in 70 games due to injuries and hit just .195 with eight home runs, yet he made $16 million to basically be a part-time player.
At 34 years old, Bay was bound to become a DH/platoon-type player anyway. By going back to the American League, it could jumpstart Bay’s bat, along with his career.
The worst-case scenario is that Bay underperforms, and the Yankees release him; Bay’s already getting paid the rest of his deal from the Mets, anyway.
I think it’s a move that Cashman could look into to help the team and at the same time, save money on the 2013 payroll.
Stay tuned, Yankees Universe.
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