Jason Bay says he has retired from baseball

Jason Bay, whose Major League Baseball career unravelled quickly after a promising start, says he has retired.

The 35-year-old a native of Trail, B.C., told Shi Davidi of Sportsnet he has not officially filed his retirement papers but does not envision playing this year “or beyond.” He also told Davidi he does not plan to play in Japan.

During an 11-year career, Bay played for five teams, San Diego, Pittsburgh, Boston, the New York Mets and Seattle. He was named the National League rookie of the year in 2004 with the Pirates, hitting 26 home runs, driving in 82 runs and batting .282 in 120 games.

His best power season was 2009 with the Red Sox, when Bay hit 36 home runs and drove in 119 runs. He was named to the all-star game, his third and final appearance, won a Silver Slugger Award and finished seven in voting for the American League most valuable player award. He came to the Red Sox as part of the three-team trade that sent Manny Ramirez to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

That was the high point. Bay signed a four-year, $66-million (US) contract with the Mets and lost his power stroke, hitting 26 home runs in three seasons. While with the Mets, he sustained two concussions, one in 2010 and one in 2012. He missed significant playing time and when he returned was never the same player. Bay told Davidi he was loathe to blame the concussions for his poor hitting. “I don’t really feel like the injuries depleted me to the point I couldn’t perform at a high level,” he said.

In November of 2012, the Mets released him from the final year of his contract, a deal that still rankles Mets fans. Bay then signed with Seattle, hitting .204 in 68 games before the Mariners released him in August.