t would probably take some of general manager Theo Epstein's most innovative payroll and roster tinkering, but it seems as though the Red Sox may not be done trying to re-sign Jason Bay after all. At least that's what WEEI.com reported late Wednesday afternoon.
The Web site attributed an unnamed team source in saying that the Red Sox have had internal discussions about extending their budget to "potentially allow for another offer" to Bay.
WEEI.com added that the deal would be in the vicinity of the four-year, $60 million bid Bay and his agent, Joe Urbon, previously turned down -- before the club inked John Lackey to a five-year, $82.5 million contract.
However, the Boston Herald, through an unnamed baseball source, cautioned that a scenario like that "would require enough creativity for it to be considered less than likely."
On the same day as the Lackey signing, the Red Sox also committed $15.5 million over two seasons to Mike Cameron. So if another run at Bay is made, it's likely that the club would have to move some pieces in the outfield. One possible option could be for Jacoby Ellsbury to be dealt so Cameron could slot into his normal position of center field, but J.D. Drew and Cameron himself could also be possibilities to get shipped out if Bay is re-signed.
The Mets have seemingly been the most aggressive suitor for Bay, after Urbon all but ruled out the 31-year-old outfielder's return to Boston earlier this month. New York has reportedly offered four years at about $65 million to the three-time All-Star, and it's been assumed that adding a guaranteed fifth year would be the ticket to securing Bay.
While confirming WEEI.com's report, the Herald added that the Red Sox haven't closed the door on Matt Holliday, either. The newspaper reported that Boston has offered the Scott Boras client five years at about $16.5 million per season. Signing Holliday, however, would be less likely "because of the more creative accounting it would require," the Herald wrote.
Reports of renewed interest from the Red Sox come one day after Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, in speaking to the New York press about his club's new hole in left field, said, "I will continue to look at any remaining piece, but it won't be a big piece. Any speculation about some high-end player who has big ability and dollars attached on a large scale would be inappropriate."
With Bay (Mets) and Holliday (Cardinals) each really only having one aggressive suitor at the moment, perhaps this could be Boston's chance to swoop in on one of them.
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