From the NY Post’s Kevin Kernan :
The fire sale is on in Florida, and it appears the Mets are ahead of the pack in the Carlos Delgado sweepstakes. They are offering minor-league pitcher Yusmeiro Petit for Delgado, 33, and are willing to take $48 million in salary off the Marlins’ hands in the process.
“This trade could happen quickly,” a source said last night.
Another big name the Mets are pursuing is another ex-Yankee, right-hander Javier Vazquez of the Diamondbacks, according to sources. Kris Benson’s name has popped up in that deal, along with promising young right-hander Brian Bannister (above), who was 13-5 last year at Binghamton (AA) and Norfolk (AAA).
UPDATE : Newsday’s Jon Heyman is reporting the Delgado deal is done, pending a physical ; Delagdo for Petit and C/1B Mike Jacobs.
For those convinced that Carlos Beltran has already peaked, it is fair to assume he’ll see better pitches to hit if he has Delgado hitting behind him compared to batting prior to Mike Piazza for much of ’05’s first half. Either way, the Mets have to be feeling pretty good about a potential 1-5 of;
Reyes
Beltran
Wright
Delgado
Floyd
The New York Times’ Ben Shipgel wrote yesterday that free agent closer Billy Wagner has been offered a 3 year, $30 million contract by the Mets, with an option for a 4th year. Wagner, who has previously expressed his desire for a guaranteed 4 years, is no doubt aware of the market established when Boston made such a pact with Keith Foulke, though Foulke’s subsequent injuries are a worthwhile reminder why the Mets would prefer to limit their commitment. Clearly, Omar Minaya is betting that neither Philadelphia, nor Boston or Atlanta, will offer a guaranteed 4 years.
I’m going to start the rumor right now that the Mets are going to flip Delgado to the Red Sox for Manny and start Xavier Nady at first, Floyd in right, and Manny in left.
Can I finish that rumor? Please?
The wild card here is that Delgado is 1) apparently crazy (cf. his unmotivated get-the-shinebox moment with Tony Bernazard) and 2) doesn’t want to be a Met at all. But he’ll be the best-hitting first baseman in franchise history (or at least since Randy Milligan), and he should indeed help Beltran. If anyone has to get flipped out of all this, please — please — let it be Xavier Nady, who has all the makings of a classic Mets outfielder. In the Benny Agbayani mold. It’s not a compliment.
On behalf of Darryl Boston, I’m offended
How’s it going to play in New York when Carlos Delgado doesn’t come out for the National Anthem 81 times a year at Shea Stadium. Not that I blame him.
goddamn, Mark, i was really hoping we could at least get to noon today without someone bringing that up..
unless I’m wrong, it was the 7th inning stretch playing of “God Bless America” that Delgado, in a Ghandi-like act of passive resistance, refused to take part in.
http://cstb.wpengine.com/index.php?p=767
If he’s got a problem with the anthem, however, there are all kinds of creative excuses that I’m sure the open-minded NYC press corps will accept
a) was afraid Liz Phair was booked to sing (prefers her earlier work)
b) was engaged in silent prayer in the clubhouse (do you have something against God?)
c) was on the phone with David Sloane helping him fix his fax machine
ok, that’s 3. Only 78 more excuses to come up with.
Delgado should just say “Hey U.S. Patriots, check out Vieques…then ask me to stand for that shit!”
Regardless the Mets have their best first baseman since Butch Huskey.