Dealing with Delgado
According to the Post, the Mets have decided to do their best to land Carlos Delgado by matching the Rangers' offer to him. I now am officially torn on the Carlos Delgado situation.
The upside of Carlos Delgado is apparent: the dude's a hitting machine and he lacks any real offensive weakness. Nobody in their right mind will pitch around Beltran on a consistent basis with Delgado sitting behind him, and that's exactly what this "New" Mets lineup needs -- protection. And while I'd gladly pay him 12 million over the next two years, over the next four is a little risky. For all the ranting and raving I've done about Delgado really not being that bad of a fielder, he by no means is an expert first-basemen. And the aging progression of baseball players doesn't usually make a guy a better fielder in his age 35 and 36 seasons.
So, while the Rangers have the ability to sign him for one big reason (if Delgado can't field the position, he doesn't have to play it), the Mets don't have that safety net to fall back on. Not unless Major League Baseball goes through some drastic changes within the next four seasons.
If the Mets really did decide to match, and the source being the Post there stands a chance they did not, I'm not sure if this isn't the mistake all the cynics have been waiting for. Although, all things considered, it isn't that bad. Delgado would more than likely be a terrific to solid hitter for the duration of his contract, and provide solid protection to whomever bats third, and first base defense isn't critical to a team's success (although it's not something to be breezed over, either).
And, there's always the belief that if the Mets start running on all cylinders, and Delgado is a Met, the next two years should do more than enough to help ourselves ease into the last two years of his contract.
The area of most concern to me however is still the Marlins. If the Marlins land Delgado, you would assume there goes the chance of the Mets making the playoffs this year. I don't see the Mets toppling the Braves and the Marlins + Carlos Delgado. And by the time Delgado is breaking down with the Marlins, there stands a good chance Pedro is breaking down with us and they've cancelled each other out. If Delgado goes to the Rangers, I can live with it.
If he goes to the Marlins, save us all.
The upside of Carlos Delgado is apparent: the dude's a hitting machine and he lacks any real offensive weakness. Nobody in their right mind will pitch around Beltran on a consistent basis with Delgado sitting behind him, and that's exactly what this "New" Mets lineup needs -- protection. And while I'd gladly pay him 12 million over the next two years, over the next four is a little risky. For all the ranting and raving I've done about Delgado really not being that bad of a fielder, he by no means is an expert first-basemen. And the aging progression of baseball players doesn't usually make a guy a better fielder in his age 35 and 36 seasons.
So, while the Rangers have the ability to sign him for one big reason (if Delgado can't field the position, he doesn't have to play it), the Mets don't have that safety net to fall back on. Not unless Major League Baseball goes through some drastic changes within the next four seasons.
If the Mets really did decide to match, and the source being the Post there stands a chance they did not, I'm not sure if this isn't the mistake all the cynics have been waiting for. Although, all things considered, it isn't that bad. Delgado would more than likely be a terrific to solid hitter for the duration of his contract, and provide solid protection to whomever bats third, and first base defense isn't critical to a team's success (although it's not something to be breezed over, either).
And, there's always the belief that if the Mets start running on all cylinders, and Delgado is a Met, the next two years should do more than enough to help ourselves ease into the last two years of his contract.
The area of most concern to me however is still the Marlins. If the Marlins land Delgado, you would assume there goes the chance of the Mets making the playoffs this year. I don't see the Mets toppling the Braves and the Marlins + Carlos Delgado. And by the time Delgado is breaking down with the Marlins, there stands a good chance Pedro is breaking down with us and they've cancelled each other out. If Delgado goes to the Rangers, I can live with it.
If he goes to the Marlins, save us all.
posted by a2d @ 2:10 AM
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