November 17, 200520 yr PITTSBURGH ? (AP) ? Jason Bay, coming off two of the best career-starting seasons in Pittsburgh Pirates history, has agreed to a multiyear contract with the club that will cover his arbitration-eligible seasons. The Pirates called an afternoon news conference Thursday to announce the signing of the 27-year-old outfielder. Bay made $355,000 last season after failing to reach terms with the team and having his contract automatically renewed. He was not eligible for arbitration until after next season and could not become a free agent until after 2009. Bay and the club have been discussing contracts as long as five years, which would include his arbitration-eligible seasons and his first year of free agency. "He's performed at a very high level, and we have a great deal of trust in what he's going to be able to do in the future,'' general manager Dave Littlefield said in September. "He's a fine representative of the Pirates. He's intelligent, courteous, humble, mature, a lot of positive things.'' Bay followed his 2004 NL Rookie of the Year season by hitting .306 with 32 homers, 101 RBIs, 110 runs scored, 21 stolen bases and a .402 on-base percentage in 2005 despite playing on a team that lost 95 games. He finished 12th in the NL MVP voting after playing in all 162 games. In 2004, Bay hit .282 with 26 homers and 82 RBIs in 120 games while becoming the first Rookie of the Year in club history. He won the award despite missing the first five weeks of the season after shoulder surgery. The Pirates acquired Bay from the San Diego Padres, for whom he played briefly in 2003. The Canadian-born Bay has a .295 average, 62 homers, 197 RBIs and 28 stolen bases in 312 career games with the Pirates and Padres.
November 17, 200520 yr Another franchise player locked up. Gotta love how Beinfest never takes notice...
November 17, 200520 yr Another franchise player locked up. Gotta love how Beinfest never takes notice... I'm am beginning to believe the concepts or phrases "franchise player" and "long term" don't exist in his vocabulary.
November 17, 200520 yr Another franchise player locked up. Gotta love how Beinfest never takes notice... I'm am beginning to believe the concepts or phrases "franchise player" and "long term" don't exist in his vocabulary. Me too, sadly.
November 17, 200520 yr Congrats to Bay, I'd say he's earned it. Good move by the Pirates FO, dont say that too often.
November 17, 200520 yr Author That will probably be announced at the 3 p.m. press conference to announce the deal
November 17, 200520 yr was a hell of a trade for the pirates ... and glad to see them have bay locked up good stuff
November 17, 200520 yr Bah, short of Cuban buying the team, I predict Bay will be in trade rumors for the next few years because of his contract. Don't get me wrong, I think it's the right move for Pittsburgh but it seems all small market teams that sign franchines players (Delgado, Mike Sweeney, Todd Helton, et al) seem to become trade bait after a year or so.
November 17, 200520 yr Another franchise player locked up. Gotta love how Beinfest never takes notice... I'm am beginning to believe the concepts or phrases "franchise player" and "long term" don't exist in his vocabulary. Me too, sadly. Don't point at Beinfest only, look at Loria as well.
November 17, 200520 yr 4 years 18.25 with another 750 K in bonuses A steal for them. ::glares at Beinfest::
November 17, 200520 yr seems all small market teams that sign franchines players (Delgado, Mike Sweeney, Todd Helton, et al) seem to become trade bait after a year or so. But how many of those names mentioned have changed teams? Just because the Yankees, Red Sox and Mets feel like they can cite emminent domain and simply "assume" good players through endless media rumors rarely means it's going to happen.
November 18, 200520 yr Big difference between Bay's contract (less than 5 million per) and the examples cited.
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