Carlos Delgado traded to the Mets

[Thom Little]

Carlos Delgado spurned the Mets last winter. Now he's the newest employee in Flushing anyway.

The Mets obtained the slugger from the dismantling Marlins yesterday for rookie Mike Jacobs and pitching prospect Yusmeiro Petit. The teams did not officially acknowledge the trade, first reported by the Daily News in yesterday's editions, because physicals are pending, but Mets special assistant Tony Bernazard told a Puerto Rican radio station: "We're very happy because we will have Delgado in our organization."

With Delgado owed $13.5 million next season and free-agent closer Billy Wagner commanding roughly $11 million a season if he signs, the Mets could soon be $5 million over the money freed by shedding Mike Piazza's contract and swapping Mike Cameron for Xavier Nady, who will play right field. And that's before throwing dollars at free-agent catchers Ramon Hernandez and Bengie Molina.

As a result, the Mets have ruled out pursuing Alfonso Soriano, a person familiar with the team's thinking said. Landing Manny Ramirez also is unlikely, though a team insider suggested a significant drop in Boston's asking price coupled with a trade to free up salary could cause that to be revisited.



http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/story/368561p-313578c.html

[henslee]

1. A kick for met fans.

[maveric]

2. I like Carlos. But I feel that his best days are behind him.

Did you know that he's anti-war and anti-bu$h?