Seattle, WA (NEWS1130) -  BC major leaguer Jason Bay could be playing close to home this season.  The Trail native, according to Seattle radio reports is close to signing with the Seattle Mariners.

That’s the rumour from the Major League Baseball winter meetings in Nashville.  Bay, who has a home in  Seattle during the off-season, had the final year of his 4-year $66 million contract bought out by the New York Mets after a difficult 2012 season. In 2012, Bay batted just .165 with eight home runs and 20 RBI in a season limited to 70 games by injury.

Bay, 34 had signed with the Mets after hitting 36 homers and 119 RBI’s for the Boston Red Sox in 2009.  The Mariners first tried to land Bay three years ago at the baseball winter meetings in Indianapolis, when the Mets came through with the better deal.  At the time, there had been worries about Bay’s previous knee injury.