NEW YORK — Canadian Jason Bay happily put on his Mets jersey after two team executives fumbled with the buttons, then dispelled a couple of rumours, saying there were no issues with his shoulder or desire to play in New York.
With brilliant sunlight pouring through big picture windows in one of Citi Field’s exclusive club rooms, the Mets new slugging left fielder saw only the upside for a club that went an embarrassing 70-92 last season after a string of injuries wrecked the first season in its new ballpark.
“I wouldn’t’ve signed the contract if I didn’t want to be here or I wasn’t happy. This is one of the biggest days of my life,” Bay said Tuesday.
“They’ve got a great group of hitters; arguably the best pitcher in baseball. What’s not to like?”
The US$66-million, four-year deal that returns Bay, of Trail, B.C., to the team that had him for several months in 2002 could be worth $80 million including an option for a fifth season.
The 2014 option for $17 million would become guaranteed if Bay has 600 plate appearances in 2013 or 500 plate appearances in both the 2012 and 2013 seasons, something he’s done in each of his six full seasons except 2004, when he was NL Rookie of the Year with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Bay passed his physical Monday, no small hurdle for the Mets, who had a roster of all-stars miss significant time in 2009.