MLB: Bay seeking 5-6 years @ 16-18 million per?

Former Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Jason Bay will be one of the top marquee free agents to hit the open market this month.

The Boston Red Sox would love to keep Bay and have made an initial offer of four years worth $60 million.

Bay has an interest in returning to Boston but is believed to be seeking atleast 5-6 years worth $16-$18 million per season.

A number of teams are expected to express interest including the New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays, Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, Los Angeles Angels and the San Francisco Giants. The St. Louis-Dispatch reports, the Cardinals have also targeted Bay, if outfielder Matt Holliday leaves via free agency.

Talk around the league is that one team prepared to outbid the Red Sox could be the San Francisco Giants.

The Mets, Cardinals, Braves and Blue Jays expressed significant interest in Bay during his time with the Pirates.

Bay, 31, is a three-time All-Star with four 100-RBI seasons on his resume.