Baseball

Mets back in the hunt for Delgado

By Times wire
Published January 25, 2005

NEW YORK - One day after saying the Mets were out, Carlos Delgado's agent said they were back in.

David Sloane, who represents the free-agent first baseman, resumed talks with New York on Monday and said the Mets, Marlins and Orioles remained in contention to sign Delgado.

After the Mets told him Sunday that they needed to have a decision by the end of the night, Sloane said New York had withdrawn, a statement that puzzled the Mets, who said they were waiting to hear back.

Monday, the sides started taking again.

"I spoke to the Marlins, Mets and Orioles (Monday) regarding our respective proposals," Sloane wrote in an e-mail. "Carlos and I also talked about all three offers. There will be further discussion (today) with all the concerned parties."

Texas, which had offered a $48-million, four-year deal, withdrew Sunday, with Delgado saying he wasn't prepared to be a designated hitter most of the time.

Sloane's remarks Sunday caught New York by surprise. Chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon and general manager Omar Minaya had spoken with him and were expecting to hear back.

Meanwhile, Mets catcher Mike Piazza said he had not ruled out retiring after this season, the final one of the seven-year, $91-million contract he signed in 1998. "I'm sort of a little bit at a crossroads in my career," said Piazza, 36, who is coming off one of his worst seasons.

D'BACKS: Free agent Tony Clark agreed to a $750,000, one-year contract and said he is content to back up Chad Tracy at first base.

DODGERS: Right-hander Brad Penny avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $5.1-million, one-year contract.

INDIANS: Right-hander Jake Westbrook, who became an All-Star and won a team-high 14 games last season after switching from the bullpen, agreed to a $7.5-million, two-year contract and avoided arbitration. Westbrook began 2004 as a long reliever before an injury to Jason Stanford thrust him into the starting rotation. He responded by going 14-9 with a 3.38 ERA in 30 starts.

PIRATES: Former Devil Rays outfielder Ben Grieve agreed to a minor-league contract. Also, utilityman Rob Mackowiak neared agreement on a $1.5-million deal that would avoid arbitration.

REDS: Infielder Rich Aurilia agreed to a minor-league contract, giving him the chance to become the starting shortstop.

TIGERS: Free-agent outfielder Magglio Ordonez met with owner Mike Ilitch and his top staff. Ordonez, a four-time All-Star, missed much of last season with injuries.

WHITE SOX: Japanese second baseman Tadahito Iguchi agreed on a two-year contract. Iguchi will get between $2-million and $2.5-million per season, with a team option for a third. Iguchi, 30, batted .333 with 24 homers and 89 RBIs last season with the Daiei Hawks. He has won two stolen base titles and three Golden Glove awards and been a four-time All-Star.

OBITUARY: Cesar Gutierrez, a Venezuelan shortstop who set a major-league record for consecutive hits in an extra-inning game with seven while playing with the Tigers in 1970, died Saturday of a heart attack in Cabimas, Venezuela. He was 61.

[Last modified January 25, 2005, 01:21:08]