Jason Bay was welcomed by Red Sox fans after coming over in a trade that saw Manny Ramirez leave town.

BY WEB STAFF

sportsnet.ca

Canadian outfielder Jason Bay will test the open market after turning down a a reported four-year, $60 million extension from the Boston Red Sox.

According to a SI.com report, the Red Sox own exclusive negotiating rights until 12:01 a.m. ET Friday, after which Bay is free to talk with other teams.

"Nothing will happen by day's end, but we'll keep talking,'' Bay's agent, Joe Urbon, told SI.com on Thursday.

Bay hit .267 with 36 homers and 119 RBI with the Red Sox last season, and alongside St. Louis Cardinals slugger Matt Holliday make up the premier left fielders on the market.

"It's not a surprise that a player that's gone this far wants to see what's out there,'' Red Sox GM Theo Epstein told SI.com. Epstein declined to talk to SI.com about the specifics of the Bay negotiations.

Also on Thursday pitcher Andy Pettitte and outfielder Fernando Tatis filed for free agency, upping the total number of players available to 171.