Red Sox rumors: Boston in contact with Jason Bay

The Boston Red Sox are among the teams that have been in contact with free agent outfielder Jason Bay, reports Buster Olney of ESPN:

The Red Sox are among the teams in contact with Jason Bay, as he considers his options for 2013. Looking for opportunity, familiarity.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) November 13, 2012

Olney adds that Bay is looking for an opportunity to play in 2013 for a team that he’s familiar with. The Red Sox would certainly qualify as they acquired Bay from the Pittsburgh Pirates in July of 2008.

Bay would go on to spend one and a half seasons with the Red Sox. During his impressive 2009 campaign, which garnered MVP consideration, he hit .267/.384/.537 with 29 doubles and 36 home runs. This helped him ink his lucrative free agent contract with the New York Mets the following winter.

After three difficult seasons in New York Bay was released of his contract and has once again hit the free agent market. The Red Sox have been tied to corner outfielders as they traded Carl Crawford to the Los Angeles Dodgers over the summer and Cody Ross is a free agent.