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Tide of competition ebbing in ‘Bay Watch’

Comments: 34

By BART HUBBUCH

Last Updated:
12:17 PM, December 19, 2009

Posted:
1:24 AM, December 19, 2009

Jason Bay’s leverage against the Mets is running out.

The number of teams believed to be interested in the free-agent left fielder — and willing to trump the Mets’ four-year, roughly $65 million offer — dwindled further yesterday when the Mariners took volatile Milton Bradley off the Cubs’ hands.

That could play right into the Mets’ favor and prompt a resolution to “Bay Watch” in the next two or three days, according to one major league executive.

METS BLOG

The Mariners had been pegged by many observers as the “mystery team” that Bay’s agent, Joe Urbon, claimed had trumped the Mets’ offer with a five-year proposal, but Seattle’s addition of Bradley to its outfield seems to dash that.

Mets officials say they now wonder if there is a mystery team at all, prompting general manager Omar Minaya to decline — at least so far — to add the fifth year the 31-year-old Bay is seeking.

The Mets aren’t ruling out giving Bay a fifth year, but they still want to be sure that they aren’t bidding against themselves before doing so, a team source said.

It does appear that the Mets have little company in their pursuit of Bay, an All-Star and former NL Rookie of the Year who hit a career-high 36 homers for Boston last season, but also struck out a career-most 162 times.

The Red Sox already have made it clear they won’t re-sign Bay after acquiring Mike Cameron this week. The Angels and Giants reportedly have shown mild interest, although Bay is thought to be opposed to playing in San Francisco for unspecified reasons.

The Mets, however, don’t have the upper hand entirely in their ongoing negotiations. The Mets are under pressure to make a splashy acquisition, desperately need power and have a big hole in left field that they appear determined to fill with a prominent free agent.

The problem, though, is that Matt Holliday is the only other player who fits that billing this winter, and Holliday is seeking a long-term deal around $100 million — a figure considered far too rich for the Mets’ liking.

By comparison, the Mets appear willing to go no higher than $75 million in total dollars to Bay.

On the other hand, the Mets’ other current free-agent target — 35-year-old catcher Bengie Molina — appears to have no leverage at all in his stalled talks with Minaya. No other clubs have shown major interest in Molina, much less offered him roughly $10 million over two years as the Mets have, yet he continues to balk unless Minaya guarantees a third year.

According to a league source, the Mets might move on to Rod Barajas or another available veteran if the Molina talks don’t resolve soon.

* The Mets officially announced the signings of right-hander Clint Everts to a major league deal and fellow righty Elmer Dessens to a minor league contract.

Everts is a former first-round pick of the Expos and reliever who comes to the Mets from the Nationals’ system.

bhubbuch@nypost.com

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