Today, at Citi Field, the Mets unveiled new Left Fielder Jason Bay. After Bay made an opening remark, Rod Gilbert, a New York Rangers Hall of Famer presented Bay with a New York Rangers “Bay” number 44 Jersey (Two Times Bobby Orr, as Gilbert said.) Here are some quotes from Bay.

• “There was a short-list of teams that I wanted to go to and the New York Mets were on that list.”
• “[Citi Field] had zero factor in any of my decisions.”
• “I’m by no means Tori Hunter out there.”
• “Since after the Winter Meetings there wasn’t a 48 hour window where we didn’t talk… They were very persistant.”
• “We actually agreed in principal before Christmas.”
• “I heard about [Peter Gammons’s Statement that Bay would rather play in Beruit than Queens]….no one knew my oppinion on anything except my family and agent…. it couldn’t be farther from the truth.”
• “I actually never hurt my shoulder… I had surgery on it in 2003 and it’s been great ever since. It’s just another one of those things that kinda took on a life of it’s own. No concerns ever.”

Omar Minaya went on to say that “There is never a day that goes by that we don’t look at improving our pitchers.”

After the press conference Bay spoke with Kevin Burkhardt of SNY.

• “Right from the get-go they were the team that showed the most interest”
• “If this wasn’t the place that I wanted to be, then I wouldn’t be here.”
• “During the season last year I spent a lot of time on the back of the plane talking to Billy Wagner and his thoughts on [The Mets], Xavier Nady loved [his time here], and I had a conversation with Alex Cora.”
• “Everyone said that they are a first class organization and i figured that out over the last 2 days.”
• “The park size was never a factor in anything.”
• “I don’t consider myself a home run hitter…. I pride myself in driving in runs.”
• “If they want to hit me ninth, then hit me ninth.”

Written and Complied by Matt Grasso

Picture by mike stobe of getty images