“It’s definitely going to be tough for all of us,’’ Kevin Youkilis said. “Jason was a close friend. A joy to play with him. Great ballplayer.
“But it’s a business, things happen. It’s one of those business moves on each side. It just didn’t work out right. I wish him the best in New York. Hopefully we get to see him in the World Series.’’
The Sox and Bay’s camp had been talking since spring training but Joe Urbon, Bay’s agent, told media outlets Dec. 12 that Bay was ready to move on. It appeared there was no agreement on Bay’s value, and that he was going to go with the highest bidder. Messages left for Bay and Urbon yesterday went unreturned.
“We’ve been talking with them for 10 months,’’ Urbon said two weeks ago. “We’ve got to a point where, based on the offers we’ve received from other clubs, we needed to make it clear where we stand, and they’ve made it clear where they stand. If they want, they can re-engage at some point in this process, but we’re not going to wait. We can’t wait. We have to go at the pace of the other clubs.’’
Within two days of those statements by Urbon, the Sox had signed John Lackey and Mike Cameron, filling an open outfield spot and putting a dent in the pot of money they had available for their 2010 team and beyond.
Other teams reportedly in on the bidding for Bay were the Angels, Giants, and Mariners, though it appears the market never exploded the way Bay’s camp would have wished.
Because the Mets have a protected first-round pick in 2010 (No. 7), the Sox will receive the Mets’ second-round pick as well as a supplemental pick as compensation. The Sox lost their own first-round pick by signing Marco Scutaro and lost their second-round pick when they signed Lackey, but they gained a likely first-round pick when the Braves signed Billy Wagner.
