One Question for Christmas Eve (and Beyond)

It's been 13 days since the Mets extended their 4-year ~$65mm offer to Jason Bay, and the prize remains unsigned. The tabloids are restless, and they're going for the throat. Look around, they implore, the Yankees are making moves, ditto the Red Sox, Phillies, and the Mariners, and my GOD, the Nationals!What is wrong with Omar Minaya and company, they demand to know. Every day the chorus of dissent grows louder. That's the question offered by the press; here's the one I want to offer: what does signing Jason Bay do for the prospects of this team? Does adding Bay make the Mets favorites for the division in 2010? I don't think anyone seriously believes that, not with the holes in our rotation. Does it position us better for 2011? Possible, but not likely. What's likely is that Bay's 30-35 home runs becomes more like 25-30 at Citi Field, and that his defense is exposed in our spacious outfield. I realize you can play the "glass half empty" gam...