Jason Bay Signs 4-Year Extension with the Pittsburgh Pirates
11/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Nov. 17, 2005
PITTSBURGH, Pa. -The Pittsburgh Pirates have come to terms with former Gonzaga University great and 2005 MLB All-Star outfielder Jason Bay on a long-term contract extension.
The four-year deal is believed to be worth $18.25 million in guaranteed money with the possibility of another $750,000 in bonuses.
"Obviously, this means the world to me," said Bay. "When you are five years old, you don't say [you want to play] in the big leagues because it is going to make you a lot of money. But at the same time, that's the reality.
"Never did I ever think that something like this was going to happen. That makes it equally special. It's almost like getting called up to the big leagues again, because I never expected any of this."
Bay, who had his contract renewed at $355,000 last season, would not have been arbitration eligible until next winter. The four-year deal gives Bay financial security while also providing the Pirates with cost certainty for Bay's three arbitration years.
The extension, which is the longest contract the Pirates have offered since Dave Littlefield became the Pittsburgh general manager in 2001, is the culmination of more than two months of negotiations between the team and Bay's representatives.
"What was holding us up was [that the Pirates] really wanted to do an option year [for 2010], and we really didn't want to give up my first year of free agency," said Bay. "When they finally decided that they were willing to let it go, things went a lot faster."
Bay, 27, has emerged as the centerpiece of the Pittsburgh offense since being acquired from the San Diego Padres as part of the Brian Giles trade on Aug. 26, 2003.
The Trail, B.C. native batted .282 with 26 home runs and 82 RBIs in 2004 on his way to becoming the first Pirate and first Canadian-born player to be named the National League Rookie of the Year.
Bay followed that up last season by leading the Bucs with a .306 batting average, 44 doubles, 32 home runs, 101 RBIs, 110 runs and 21 stolen bases, while starting all 162 games. In doing so, he became the first player in team history to hit .300 with at least 30 home runs, 40 doubles, 20 stolen bases, 100 runs scored and 100 RBIs in the same season.
Bay ranked among the top 10 hitters in the National League in batting average, runs, doubles, hits (183), walks (95), multi-hit games (54), total bases (335), on-base percentage (.402) and slugging percentage (.559).
Bay views his signing as an indication that the Pirates are committed to keeping their top young players in Pittsburgh for the long run.
"It shows a lot of faith in the ownership and front office, not only to me, but to the fans," said Bay. "It also kind of shows that we are making strides, getting better and keeping guys around now. Hopefully, this continues.
