The Sports Network
Seattle, Washington (Sports Network) - The Seattle Mariners have signed
outfielder Jason Bay, inking him to a one-year deal. Financial terms were not
disclosed.
Bay, who attended Gonzaga University and currently resides in Washington,
became an unrestricted free agent earlier this offseason after a mutual
parting of the ways with the New York Mets following three unproductive and
injury plagued seasons.
The Mets bought Bay out for $21 million, paying him the $16 million he was
owed next season, $3 million for the buyout on 2014 option year and $2 million
he had remaining on signing bonus.
A three-time All-Star, Bay signed a four-year, $65 million contract with a
vesting option for a fifth season with the Mets back in January of 2010,
coming off a career year in 2009 with the Boston Red Sox in which he hit
.267 with 36 home runs and 119 RBI.
But Bay never clicked in any of his three seasons in Queens due to a number of
injuries and batted .234 with 26 homers and 124 RBI over 288 games there.
Bay was limited to 70 games a year ago, hitting a paltry .165 with eight
homers and 20 RBI. He missed time from April 24 to June 7 while on the
disabled list thanks to a fractured rib.
For his career, the 34-year-old from British Columbia is a. 269 hitter with
211 homers, 234 doubles and 734 RBI over 1,210 games in 10 seasons for the
Padres, Pirates, Red Sox and Mets.
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