Re: Delgado and Castillo, to be Mets by weekend?



Met-in-PR wrote:

From today's NY Daily News:
--
      Mets closing in on Delgado

      Go fishing for Marlin slugger

      By ADAM RUBIN
      DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER


The Mets appear to have surged into the lead in the Carlos Delgado sweepstakes. And with the dismantling Marlins looking to quickly move hefty salaries, the Daily News has learned it's conceivable the slugger who spurned the Mets last winter could join the team by Thanksgiving, an executive pursuing Delgado said.
The $48 million owed to Delgado over the next three years, plus a salary adjustment of at least $1.5 million to account for state taxes in New York that don't exist in Florida, would seem to preclude the Mets from landing Manny Ramirez.

Delgado, 33, would give the Mets the bona fide power hitter the team has lacked. After spurning the Mets' four-year, $53 million overture last winter for a slightly inferior offer from the Marlins, Delgado hit .301 with 33 homers and 115 RBI in 144 games this year. No Met has reached that RBI total since Mike Piazza (124) and Robin Ventura (120) in 1999.

It's unclear who the cost-slashing Marlins would receive in a trade, but the Mets' low-priced chips match Florida's needs. With Josh Beckett traded and A.J. Burnett a free agent, the Mets have young pitchers Aaron Heilman, Jae Seo and Yusmeiro Petit to offer. Mike Jacobs, a lefty-hitting first baseman like Delgado, would appear to be expendable. And with Marlins second baseman Luis Castillo likely to also be traded, the Mets have infield prospects Anderson Hernandez and Jeff Keppinger.

The Mets, however, would need to overcome bad blood with Delgado, which has seemed to linger.

Delgado accused the Mets of recruiting him last winter based on shared Hispanic heritage rather than as a man. When Minaya introduced special assistant Tony Bernazard last at last December's winter meetings during a meeting in agent David Sloane's hotel room, Delgado accused him of being "the highest-paid translator on the planet." Delgado and Bernazard share Puerto Rican heritage.

As a player traded after the first year of a multiyear contract, Delgado would have the right to demand a trade after one season. Given that his contract is heavily backloaded - the Marlins paid only $4 million in '05, leaving $48 million - it would seem farfetched that Delgado would threaten to walk away - the recourse for a player not traded after making the request.

Then again, Delgado has taken unpopular stands before. With the Blue Jays, Delgado declined to stand for "God Bless America" to protest U.S. policies even though he received considerable flak for that stance.

Minaya has coveted Ramirez, but there is no guarantee the Red Sox will deal him. And when Red Sox teammate David Ortiz was just quoted reiterating Ramirez's desire to get out of Boston, he noted the slugger's wish to play on the West Coast.

The Mets obtained first baseman/outfielder Xavier Nady from the Padres because of his versatility. If the Delgado deal comes to fruition, Nady would be pushed to the outfield.

The rapid acquisition of Delgado also would seem to put the Mets in better position to land Wagner. The free-agent closer again said yesterday that he's looking for the best chance to win a World Series in addition to a big payoff.

The Mets could give him both: They've already offered three years at more than $30 million with an option for a fourth season based on performance.


The Delgado file

2005 Stats: 33 HR, 115 RBI, .301 AVG, .399 OBP

Pros


a.. One of the game's premier sluggers, who has hit at least 30 home runs for nine straight seasons.

a.. The perfect answer to the Mets' deficiency in the middle of the lineup, would offer protection to Carlos Beltran, David Wright and Cliff Floyd.

Cons


a.. Does not seem interested in playing for Mets, spurning them during last year's free-agent period for a lesser offer from the Marlins.

a.. While with Blue Jays, caused fan backlash for refusing to stand for God Bless America in protest of U.S. political policies.

a.. Fielding is average at best and may be past his prime at 33.

Originally published on November 23, 2005


In the long run, this gives away too many talented young players for a player late in his career, and likely about to decline.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: And the next Met catcher is.....
    ... > Mets: Minaya eyes Delgado ... > Marlins out to unload 1B Mets missed last season ... > A person who has spoken with Omar Minaya said yesterday that the Mets GM ...
    (alt.sports.baseball.ny-mets)
  • Delgado reportedly dealt to Mets
    ... Carlos Delgado signed the richest contract in Marlins ... Delgado reportedly has been dealt to the Mets. ...
    (alt.sports.baseball.ny-mets)
  • Re: And the next Met catcher is.....
    ... > Talent-wise, Delgado is worth a lot, but in this scenario, they have to eat ... but the Marlins would get a ton of salary ... >> Mets: Minaya eyes Delgado ... >> Marlins are in full salary-dump mode and are said to be shopping not ...
    (alt.sports.baseball.ny-mets)
  • Delgado and Castillo, to be Mets by weekend?
    ... Go fishing for Marlin slugger ... The Mets appear to have surged into the lead in the Carlos Delgado ... And with the dismantling Marlins looking to quickly move hefty ...
    (alt.sports.baseball.ny-mets)
  • Re: Trade with Florida?
    ... They can provide Obp with speed at the top of the lineup and Obp/Slg from first base (Delgado). ... The Mets have traded players with Florida in the past, so the barrier of trading with a team within the division may not be there. ... The only thing missing will be getting another starter for the rotation and of course sign Wagner and Farnsworth for the bullpen. ...
    (alt.sports.baseball.ny-mets)