Jason Bay Saves the Mets!

Apparently, the New York Mets believe that Jason Bay is worth $66 million and four years of their time. Again.

The free agent outfielder has agreed to terms for just that heading into 2010, bringing more hype to the big apple than hope. Bay, 31, will play left field and bat somewhere in the middle of the lineup.

Sure, he had Alex Rodriguez-like numbers last season, nailing 36 homers (30 in four of his last five seasons) and 119 RBI with 13 stolen bags, but he also hit just .267 and struck out 162 times.

Sadly, I'm not so sure Citi Field is going to be as kind 81 games out of the year as Fenway was to Bay. Let's compare this situation to that of David Wright, who racked up 33 homers and 124 RBI in 2008 at Shea Stadium. The following season he hit double digits again! Ten home runs and 74 runs driven in at the Mets' new abode. Ouch. Last year's team leader in longballs? Daniel Murphy with 12.

The only way Bay hits 25 over the fence or passes the 100-RBI mark in 2010 is if he hides a horseshoe in his jock.

However, there are those who believe he will actually hit more homers at Citi Field. Though no one can accurately predict what he will hit based on the past, what with him moving to a different league with different opponents and all, Mets fans can only hope.

[MLB Rumors] | [Mets Merized]

Smokin' Hot Stove: Coast to Coast

The hot stove has been heating up for the past few days, and we've seen lots of random signings throughout the league. Let's recap!

Fernando Rodney, one of the scariest men in all of baseball, has agreed to a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels to the tune of $11 million. The 32-year-old right-hander enjoyed his first seven big league seasons with the Detroit Tigers, including the last two years as their closer. He converted 37 of 38 save opportunities last season, tossing a career-best 75.2 innings.

These Guys Kick Ass At Baseball

There are just three days left of the year 2009, so it’s time once again to travel back through the years and discuss some of the Most Memorable Sports Moments of the decade. Instead, we’re going to assemble a controversial all-decade baseball team from the glorious 2000s.

That sounds like way more fun, right? Right.

First Base: Albert Pujols. Like there was ever any argument. Prince Albert’s numbers speak for themselves: a .314 batting average, 40 doubles, 34 homers, 127 RBIs, and 118 runs scored make up his crappiest season of the decade. Since being drafted in the 13th round by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1999, he has managed to improve his game from every angle every season. In 2009, Pujols snagged 16 bases, walked 115 times and hit 47 home runs. All career highs.

Continue reading this story at Sports Untapped.

Javier Vazquez Returns to the Big Apple

Even though they were just nailed with $25.69 million in luxury taxes, the New York Yankees aren't quite done spending.

Braves righty Javier Vazquez was given back to New York Tuesday in a trade that sent centerfielder Melky Cabrera to Atlanta. The Yankees will also get tall drink of water Boone Logan while the Braves will obtain lefty pitching prospect Mike Dunn, right-handed Dominican Arodys Vizcaino, and half a million dollars.

Cabrera set career highs with 13 homers and 68 RBIs last season for the Yanks while batting .274.

Vazquez was with New York in 2004, going 14-10 in his only All-Star season. He might be best remembered for his ALCS Game 7 meltdown when he surrendered a first-pitch grand slam to Johnny Damon (along with another bomb) in relief of Kevin Brown.

Ah, memories.

Have a safe and happy holiday season! See ya the Monday after Christmas...

[NY Daily News] | [Tomahawk Take] | [Yankee Addicts] | [Jorge Says No!]

Roy Halladay Will Sorta Miss Canada

Roy Halladay loved his (devastated) Blue Jays fans so much that he gave them a thank you card in the form of a full-page newspaper advertisement this Tuesday.

[warm fuzzies]

After 12 seasons with Toronto, the 2003 Cy Young Award Winner was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in a three-team blockbuster last week. In the ad, Halladay said he felt "blessed" to have been an honorary Canadian since being drafted by the Jays in 1995.

"Toronto will forever have a special place in my heart. The memories will last a lifetime and so will my gratitude."

In his career as a Blue Jay, Doc went 148-76 with a 3.43 ERA.

[ESPN] | [Mop Up Duty] | [NESN]

The Stadium Shmadium Tour Returns

If you remember reading about how Matt Stairs is a total hoser then laughing your ass off at A Game of Centimeters back in April, then you are undoubtedly as excited as I am for the sequel.

Stadium Shmadium Tour, Episode 2: Pittsburgh Pirates.

I pretty much can't wait until March 10, 2010.

Seriously? Milton Bradley?

You now, I was really excited for the Seattle Mariners for a little while there. They were movin' and shakin' all over the place this winter.

First they signed Chone Figgins, adding some speed and pop to the top of their batting order. Also, he's great defensively and can play pretty much anywhere. It's not like they had to break the bank, either. They managed to grab the second third baseman for $36 million over four years with a possible 2014 option. Not bad.

Then, they nabbed a whopper: 2008 AL Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee, who will be one half of what is likely to be one of the most killer one-two punches in baseball along with Felix Hernandez.

The Mariners were beginning to take shape as the team to contend with in the AL West.

Then they totally crapped the bed. Milton Bradley you guys? Are you joking me? Do you not read the news, Jack Zduriencik? You'll regret this, buddy. Mark my words. That dude is loony toons. A bad egg. A rotten apple. He'll bring dysfunction to your happy family... and he's not really that good at baseball anymore, either.

Get ready to be persecuted, Seattle fans. It's going to be your fault soon enough.

[Seattle Times] | [Delusional Cubs Fan] | [Chicago Breaking News]

Smokin' Hot Stove: John Lackey

The Boston Red Sox have been pretty busy. All in one day, they reached tentative agreements with husky right-hander John Lackey and centerfielder Mike Cameron.

Lackey agreed to a five-year contract worth roughly $17.5 million annually, according to who else, but an anonymous source familiar with the incomplete, secret negotiations. Meanwhile, Cameron agreed to a two-year contract possibly worth $8 million a season, subject to a physical.

Roy Halladay FINALLY Going Somewhere

If there's one thing we dislike here at BLB, it's teams pussyfooting around. The Toronto Blue Jays have held Roy Halladay hostage for over an entire season, but it looks as though they're ready to ship him off to Philadelphia.

In what should go down as the biggest post-winter meetings blockbuster of the offseason, Halladay is likely to be traded to the Phillies in a three-team stunner... at the cost of lefty ace Cliff Lee and a few prospects.

$30 Million For Randy Wolf? Yikes.

Really Milwaukee Brewers? You're dishing out $29.75 million over the next three seasons for Randy Wolf? He's really still a $10 million/year type of guy, huh? Hey, what do I know -- maybe that's why I'm not a GM.

The deal, which is still in the works but was leaked by an anonymous source on Wednesday, even includes a $10 million option for 2013. They may change their minds by then, though. The 34-year-old lefty was 11-7 with a decent 3.23 ERA for the Los Angeles Dodgers this season.

Oh yeah, the Brew Crew wants to give LaTroy Hawkins a two-year deal, too. (Yep. He still plays baseball.) At least they're only dropping $7.5 million on that bomb.

[MLB] | [ESPN] | [Brew Crew Ball]

Chone Figgins: Cha-Ching

Chone Figgins is officially the newest member of the Seattle Mariners organization.

The former long-time Los Angeles Angels third baseman finalized his $36 million, four-year deal with the club on Tuesday, including a 2014 option that could bring the total to $45 million over five years.

However, Figgins might not necessarily replace free-agent slugger Adrian Beltre. According to Mariners' general manager Jack Zduriencik, he's willing to play anywhere:

He’s open to playing anywhere in the infield. There’s still some moving parts here. You know, at the end, if he’s our third baseman, we’ll be very happy.

The 31-year-old speedster played mostly third base in each of his last three seasons with the Halos, but has spent 113 big league games at second and 27 at short over his career.

Figgins is coming off a damn good season, too. Aside from an All-Star appearance, he led the American League with 101 walks and put up a career-high .395 OBP of .395, scoring 114 runs (second in the league to Boston’s Dustin Pedroia.) He also snagged 42 bases, just six fewer than his eight-year average.

And having Figgins hit behind perennial All-Star Ichiro Suzuki in the top of the batting order? Not bad at all.

[Seattle Times] | [Fanhouse] | [Baseball Notebook]

Smokin' Hot Stove: Big Names Tossed Around

Some big names have been thrown out in the early winter meeting talks, but little has been seen to back up the smack.

Coveted 2003 Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay is probably the biggest fish out there, while other names strung out on the trade market like Dan Uggla and Detroit Tigers teammates Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson provided little more than mullings.

A few minor deals were struck in Indianapolis Monday, with Brian Bruney heading to the Washington Nationals for a player to be named later along with Pudge Rodriguez, and Tigers lefty Clay Rapada being shipped off to Texas for a bag of cash and some guy they'll decide on in the future. The busy Motor City Kitties did agree to a $1.55 million, one-year deal with shortstop Adam Everett, though.

Free agent righty Brad Penny somehow reached a tentative agreement on a $7.5 million, one-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, pending a passed physical. Hopefully he'll remember to zip his fly this time.

Of the 23 free agents offered arbitration by their former club last week, only three accepted by the midnight deadline: Minnesota Twins right-hander Carl Pavano, Atlanta Braves reliever Rafael Soriano, and Colorado Rockies reliever Rafael Betancourt. Lots of work to be done there.

Stay tuned for more Hot Stove Goodness over the next four days!

[MLB.com] | [Hot Stove Blog] | [The Diamond Cutter]

Pudge Not Ready To Call It Quits

Ivan Rodriguez must not know how to golf. Or fish. Or relax.

The 38-year-old catcher reached a preliminary agreement with the Washington Nationals Monday on a two-year, $6 million contract. All he has to do is pass a physical.

The 14-time All-Star, 13-time Gold Glove winner, and 1999 AL MVP split last season between the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers, hitting a combined .249 with 10 home runs and 47 RBIs. Pudge is the big league leader in games caught at 2,288... which should come as no surprise since he's been playing in the big leagues since Joe Mauer was in second grade.

In Washington, he'll likely play second fiddle to Jesus Flores, who missed most of last season after being hit by a foul ball. He returned for three at-bats in early September before undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum. In 93 at-bats overall, Flores batted .301 with four longballs and 15 RBIs.

[Washington Post] | [National Baseball Report] | [Nationals Farm Authority]

Smokin' Hot Stove: Billy Wagner

The Atlanta Braves made another move toward solidifying their pitching staff this week, signing Billy Wagner to a $7 million, one-year deal. The left-handed closer and six-time All-Star will replace last year’s tag team closing duo, Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez.

Wagner, a self-proclaimed life-long Braves fan, went 1-1 with a 1.72 ERA and 22 strikeouts in just 13.2 innings for the Boston Red Sox last year, but missed most of the season after undergoing elbow ligament replacement surgery late in the 2008 season. He returned to the New York Mets bullpen on August 20, before being traded to the Sox five days later.

His contract includes a $250,000 buyout and 2011 $6.5 million club option, which would become guaranteed if he finishes 50 games next season. This step by the Braves brass follows the Tim Hudson agreement, which not only bulks up the rotation, but pads any trade offers they might come up with toward the end of winter meetings.

[Bleacher Report] | [Diamond Hoggers] | [Fandome]