Remember Jason Bay, whose contract has been maligned to the heavens by Mets fans? He's working his way back from a rib fracture, and while it's tempting to dismiss him as "addition by subtraction," that's not the case this season.
No, Bay isn't going to be worth the money on his contract, but that's not an immediate concern for the contending Mets. What concerns them is that they have a below-average OPS vs. left-handed pitching this season, and that's where Bay comes in.
Before his injury, the right-handed hitting Bay was crushing lefties, but the sample size is, of course, extremely small. But last season, he also thumped the opposite side, and for his career he's a .284/.397/.524 hitter against left-handers. The Mets could use some production like that.
Of course, it's not likely that Bay will be strictly platooned upon his return, but that's how he's best used at this stage of his career, fat contract notwithstanding.
And speaking of his return, Bay was slated to be activated in time to play Tuesday, but ESPN New York reports that an illness has pushed back his timetable just a bit. When he does get back -- almost certainly later this week -- then it's on manager Terry Collins to use him properly.
Yes, Jason Bay can help the Mets.
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