Since the start of the season rumors flew that 2009 would most definitely was Carlos Delgado’ last season in the Big Apple.Even though was considered one of the key players for a pennant run this season, management knew behind the scenes most likely the 37-year-old Delgado, whose contract expires after this season, was not going to be ask to return.
For Mets management luckily they have the excuse to tell him goodbye after Sept. 28.
Delgado could never comeback from hip surgery and derailed by a right oblique strain. Not withstanding if he makes a comeback in the final weeks and shows his healthy no matter what it is very unlikely he will be ask to be a Met in 2010.
Well, no matter if he would not have suffered his setback Delgado would have been a victim anyway.
Fred Wilpon, the Mets principal owner, was one of the hardest hit financially by the losses caused by the Ponzi scheme run by his former friend Bernard Madoff.
According to various media reports, it have been divulged that Wilpon business, Sterling Equities, lost an estimate $700 million in Madoff’ $65 billion fraud revealed last December.
Moreover, it is not clear yet if Wilpon will lose more money in rights if the federal government re-asserts that Citigroup have to withdraw the name from Mets’ Citi Field as part of the federal banking bailout settlement.
However Delgado’ fate was not only because Wilpon’s financial distress.
Mets management has been closely watching if younger and less expensive Daniel Murphy could replace him in first base.
Another choice that has been mentioned is to trade make a trade for San Diego Padres’ Adrian Gonzalez. Due his high-priced tag words is also the Mets will make trades for Luis Castillo and Jose Reyes.
As for Delgado, he has said he wants to play in 2010.
If he can show he can comeback from injury odds are very likely he will land a deal as a designated hitter in the American League. Nobody be surprise the Toronto Blue Jays bring him back for a year with incentives.
Let keep in mind Delgado is a player with strong leadership skills and power hitting. Let be clear if it had not been for his hip injury he was coming from a 2008 season in which he hit 38 homers and 115 RBI.
Delgado is hungry career ego. The Puerto Rican All-Star, who wears number 21 in honor of Roberto Clemente, well knows that his shy of 27 dingers to reach the home-run club. That means possible Cooperstown bound.
Who will consider Delgado, time will let us know.
