Bill Chastain of MLB.com is reporting that the Rays are going to acquire outfielder Jason Bay from the Pirates for minor-leaguers SS Reid Brignac and right-handed pitcher Jeff Niemann.

Update - 3:56 p.m. ET - Marc Lancaster of the Tampa Tribune is reporting that a Rays official has denied that a deal for Jason Bay with the Pirates was done.

With the Jason Bay to Red Sox talks on the backburner, ESPN’s Jayson Stark is reporting that the Tampa Rays have emerged as the favorite for the slugging OF. The two teams have been in talks centering around RHP Jeff Niemann.  Stark and fellow colleague Keith Law believe that the Pirates will hold out for Wade Davis, Reid Brignac, or Jeremy Hellickson.

SI.com reports that the Atlanta Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates had a deal in place that would have sent OF Jason Bay to Atlanta in exchange for a quad of minor leaguers, but the deal was shot down by Pirate owners when it was presented to them. Among the minor leaguers that could have came to Pittsburgh were ex Pirate prospect Brent Lillibridge, whom they traded to Atlanta for Adam Laroche. OFs Jordan Schafer and Brandon Jones could also have been part of the package.

The Braves never fail to amaze me, one day they are sellers trying to get rid of Mark Teixeira and the next day they are buyers for Bay. Unbelieveable.

It appears that the Mets are willing to take my advice and do what needs to be done, shake up their roster.

They’ve already gone ahead and given some of the underperforming comfortable vets notice by benching their main offender in Carlos Delgado, and shown that if they can get production from others, they’re more than willing to give them the opportunity (see Fernando Tatis, Endy Chavez)

“In The Know” Dan Graziano (copyright Matthew Cerrone, of Mets Blog) writes at the Star Ledger that the Mets are now looking to take it a step further and have already begun investigating some deals to bring in fresh blood. According to Graziano, based on information from officials with three major-league teams, the Mets are making inquiries into a number of players such as Kevin Millar, Jason Bay and Xavier Nady.

Graziano cites the 2004 Boston Red Sox as an example of a team that floundered until a radical July makeover that included trading Nomar Garciaparra to the Cubs gave them a shot in the arm that led them to their first World Championship in 86 years.

You’re welcome, guys. Anytime you need a little help, I’m here for ya.

Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald reports that baseball insiders are whispering that the Pirates and Indians have had discussions about a multi-player deal that would include Cleveland’s backup catcher Kelly Shoppach and Pirates outfielder Jason Bay.

Bay, 28, had a down year, hitting .247 with 21 HRs and 84 RBIs. He is currently signed for the next two seasons at $5.75 million next season and $7.5 million in 2009.