Now that the exclusive negotiating period has come and gone for the Red Sox, the reality of who will be bidding for Jason Bay’s services starts to get clearer.

Before we get to those teams who are, and aren’t, interested in entering the fray, one thing that should be noted as this process unfolds is that Bay isn’t entering into free agency tip-toeing on eggshells. All anybody had to do was read a couple of Bay’s comments since the end of the Sox’ season to understand this.

Here’s what he said immediately after the Red Sox’ final game of the 2009 season: “I’m actually looking forward to it,” Bay said of his first foray into free agency. “I was looking forward to it after winning a World Series, or at least going further than this, but everybody, I don’t want to say ‘plays to get to this point,’ but it’s something new and something interesting … It’s tough to go out on these terms, but I guess the second part of my season is this offseason and I’m looking forward to seeing what’s out there and seeing how the process goes.”

And there was this line from the live chat Bay conducted on WEEI.com: “There isn’t one important factor. The funny thing is that everybody has an opinion of what I’m waiting for or what I’m doing and I don’t even have an opinion, and that’s the truth.”

Bay is looking forward to this process, and, as he suggested, is diving in with an open mind. For the 31-year-old who has waited his whole professional life to have this kind of opportunity, the fun has just begun. So, one day, in, this is what we know in regards to some of the teams that are (and aren’t) interested in the free agent outfielder:

Red Sox: They’ve doubled the financial part of their proposal — going from an initial offer of three years, $30 million to four years, $60 million — but didn’t come close to buying out Bay’s right to experiencing the open market. They like him, perhaps as much as anybody, as their willingness to put Bay at the top of the team’s payroll would suggest. But … all together now … all it takes is one team to jump in with the kind of love that the Sox aren’t willing to show. One thing to keep an eye on is if, or when, the Sox decide to slap a deadline on the decision. They did it with Mike Lowell (who signed his deal exactly two years ago, Friday), and with Jason Varitek last year. The thinking is that the Sox need to know which way Bay is going to go because Plan B or Plan C (whatever they might be) won’t be viable options forever.

Angels: Other than the Yankees, this is the team that could present the most problems when it comes to the Red Sox re-signing Bay. Not only do they have the kind of money that would allow for a legitimate run at a top tier free agent (remember, they were also in the Mark Teixeira and C.C. Sabathia bidding until near the end last year), but now their owner has proclaimed that LA will be a player for Bay’s services. Arte Moreno told the Los Angeles Times Thursday that not only is his team interested in Bay, but that the Angels have no interest in the other free agent big ticket item, Matt Holliday. Would anybody be surprised to see Angels approaching $17 million per year in their offer to Bay this offseason? And is that a number the Red Sox are willing to go to?

Mets: You know they have money, and they also fit the model in terms of the type of team that would value what Bay brings to the table. It has been well-documented that Bay’s detractors point to defensive metrics that don’t paint a pretty picture. (Although Bay’s agent, Joe Urbon, not only pointed out the flip-side to that argument when talking to WEEI.com, but said just a few days ago that no team he had talked to has brought up concerns regarding any of the outfielder’s defensive deficiencies.) So why does that concern the perception we might have in regards to the Mets’ interest in Bay? Check out this quote from New York GM Omar Minaya at the general managers meetings last week: “Defense is important because it’s a pretty big ballpark. But the bottom line is that if you’re a corner outfielder you’ve got to have slug,” Minaya said. “I would put offense over defense right now in a corner outfielder.” Interesting …

Giants: Not interested. At least that’s what their GM, Brian Sabean said this week. Sabean told reporters following the Tim Lincecum Cy Young press conference that his team wasn’t about to get in a race it didn’t have a chance at winning. “”We’ve contacted who we think is going to have mutual interest,” Sabean said. “We’re not going to be involved with people that are going to use us on the way to something else. If there’s legitimate mutual interest, we’ll have meaningful talks. Quite frankly, there are a lot of nice opportunities with that second tier. There are some people who are going to help, maybe in some cases just as well as the higher-priced free agents.”

Cardinals: Also reportedly not (that) interested. St. Louis clearly wants to re-sign Holliday, but it doesn’t look like Bay is their primary back-up plan. “”We’ll see how the market develops,” St. Louis general manager Mozeliak told reporters. “Is (Jason Bay) a possibility? Sure. But right now it’s fair to say he’s not one of our top priorities.”

Mariners: This one could be interesting. There is an obvious link considering the Seattle area is where Bay makes his home in the offseason, and the Mariners’ outfield’s combined OPS was horrific last year. But the flip-side is that Seattle, more than most any other team, has made outfield defense a priority. The combination of Ichiro Suzuki, Franklin Gutierrez and Endy Chavez paid dividends last season. Perhaps, with Gutierrez and Suzuki still in the mix, the Mariners find some middle ground and see a Bay acquisition as a happy medium.

Blue Jays: Yes, Bay is Canadian. (As he points out, full Canadian, and half American after gaining his U.S. citizenship this year.) But when you’re talking about competing in the free agent market with the big boys, the Blue Jays won’t have a chance. This we know: The outfielder will prioritize the certainty of winning of national pride.

Yankees: Stay tuned …

There will be more teams, rumors and reason, but this is what we have for now. Bay’s second season has officially begun.