The Mets have until Nov. 5 to pick up first baseman Carlos Delgado's option for next season. And there's really no debate: Delgado will return to the Mets in 2009.
General manager Omar Minaya already has acknowledged that the Mets plan to exercise their team option for $12 million for Delgado for next season. The decision will essentially cost the organization $8 million, as the Mets otherwise were on the hook for a $4 million buyout. Delgado's return to the Mets in '09 wasn't always assured. Entering July, Delgado was hitting .228. And at 36 years old, there were questions about whether his career was in irreversible decline, especially since he began his professional career as a catcher and spent the majority of his time on artificial turf in Toronto.
Delgado, however, responded by hitting .313 with 24 homers, 70 RBIs and 41 walks in 351 plate appearances over the regular season's final three months. He was actually the Mets' best contender for National League MVP, although the team's second consecutive September swoon means no Met should finish atop the ballot.
Despite being pursued by the Mets as a free agent during the 2004-05 offseason, Delgado signed with the Marlins that winter for four years at $48 million. But the Marlins had a fire sale after one season, and Delgado was acquired by the Mets for first baseman Mike Jacobs, right-hander Yusmeiro Petit and infielder Grant Psomas.
There had been speculation that the Mets could look to trade Delgado after picking up his option, but team officials have strongly refuted those suggestions and insist he'll man first base next season. After the '09 season, it's conceivable that Daniel Murphy and Nick Evans could play first base for the Mets.
