Thursday Night Open Thread: Bay Declines Boston's Offer

- Jason Bay has declined Boston's first offer, a 4-year deal worth around $60 million. Here's more from Jon Heyman:

Boston's offer to Bay was believed to be for four years and "close to $60 million,'' according to sources. Bay thus will join star outfielder Matt Holliday and ace pitcher John Lackey as the biggest free agents on this year's market. The exclusive period for incumbent teams expires Friday at 12:01 a.m., when free agents can begin negotiating with other teams.

"Nothing will happen by day's end, but we'll keep talking," Bay's agent Joe Urbon said.

"It's not a surprise that a player that's gone this far wants to see what's out there,'' Red Sox GM Theo Epstein said by phone in Bay's regard, though Epstein declined comment on the team's talks with Bay.

- Derek Jeter is enjoying his time off. According to the NY Post, he's been spending some down time in a luxury beach house in St. Barts with girlfriend Minka Kelly. Things are good for the captain.... very good.

- Jayson Stark had this bit of info regarding the Yankees and their outfield plans: "Sounds as if the Yankees haven't ruled out bringing back both Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui. But indications are that they're also going to take a hard line on both -- a one-year deal for Matsui, period, and no more than a two-year deal for Damon, with a preference for something shorter. At the moment, there are no signs the Yankees are in on either Matt Holliday or Jason Bay."

- Stark also wrote this article about the problems of revenue sharing.

- Andy Pettitte finally filed for free agency today. He was one of the last players to do so.

- Baseball America has the full list of Minor League free agents. The Yankees free agents are listed below:

New York Yankees (17)
RHP: Paul Bush (AA), Michael Gardner++ (AA), Justin Pope++ (AA), Humberto Sanchez (AAA), Jay Stephens (AA), Jose Valdez (AAA)
C: Brian Peterson (AAA), Chris Stewart (AAA)
3B: Eric Duncan (AAA), Carlos Mendoza+ (AA), Cody Ransom (AAA), Marcos Vechionacci (AA)
SS: Doug Bernier (AAA)
OF: Edwar Gonzalez (AA), Freddy Guzman (AAA), Richie Robnett (AA), John Rodriguez (AAA)

- Remember, teams can begin negotiating with free agents after tonight at midnight. So the real hot stove really begins tonight.