lawrencefrank
01-24-2005, 09:30 PM
NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Mets and Carlos Delgado resumed talks Monday, a day after the free-agent first baseman let the team's deadline for a deal pass.
The Texas Rangers withdrew their offer Sunday, and Delgado's agent, David Sloane, said the Mets had pulled out, too, although the team said it was awaiting a response. Sloane and the Mets talked again Monday, two people with knowledge of the talks said on condition of anonymity.
Florida and Baltimore also were trying to sign Delgado.
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While the field for Delgado narrowed, former Mets captain John Franco made his decision, agreeing Sunday to a $700,000, one-year contract with the Houston Astros. And the Yankees added a backup infielder, agreeing to a $600,000, one-year contract with Rey Sanchez, a deal subject to his passing a physical and finalization of contract language.
On Sunday night, after a conversation among Sloane, Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon and general manager Omar Minaya, New York was unsure where it stood.
``Jeff and I spoke to Mr. Sloane tonight, and we let him know we were trying to get a resolution on this matter this evening,'' Minaya said in a statement Sunday. ``He said he would convey those thoughts to Carlos, and he would call us back after speaking with Carlos. We have yet to receive that callback.''
With the Rangers, where Delgado would play became an issue Sunday.
``From the first conversation with the Texas Rangers, we made it crystal clear that Carlos Delgado had no interest in being a full-time DH,'' Sloane said. ``If we had 25 conversations with the Texas Rangers, we were told in 24 of those that the question of him playing first base was no issue. Earlier today, we were told that is changing and that 75 percent of his at-bats, should he choose to sign with the Texas Rangers, would come as a DH.
``After three months of negotiations, we were given less than five hours to tell them yes or no, to make a decision that affects not only the rest of Carlos Delgado's baseball career, but the rest of his life.''
Rangers owner Tom Hicks met with Delgado in Puerto Rico and offered a $48 million, four-year contract.
``Over the last few days, Tom Hicks and the organization reached out and made a very strong offer to Carlos Delgado,'' Texas general manager John Hart said. ``We had a great meeting with Carlos on Friday where we exceeded the limits of our initial proposal. As of this evening, however, we could not get a commitment from him, so we are withdrawing from discussions with him.
``He is a quality individual, but we want to continue to be committed with our young players and development plan. We have a first baseman in Mark Teixeira and other young players that we do not want to disrupt with potential position changes. Tom Hicks is not, and was not, afraid to spend money to add players like Carlos to our club.''
Hicks implied that the Rangers didn't want Delgado to use their offer as a springboard.
``We were clear that we were giving it our best shot Friday at the meeting. Others have now raised their offers, which is why we insisted on a deadline late this afternoon,'' he said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. ``We called them this morning to clarify that our interest in Carlos was restricted to him being a DH for 60-70 percent of the time, since we already have a great, young first baseman in Mark Teixeira.''
Franco, a 44-year-old left-hander, spent his first six seasons with the Cincinnati Reds and the last 15 with his hometown Mets. The four-time All-Star who is second to Lee Smith in career saves with 424, Franco was 2-7 with a 5.28 ERA last year.
``Change is good sometimes,'' he said. ``I've been here for 15 years. It's not going to kill me to be there for 81 days.''
Sanchez, 37, also was with the Yankees in the final weeks of the 1997 season, hitting .312 with one homer and 15 RBIs in 38 games. He batted .246 with two homers and 26 RBIs for Tampa Bay last season.
AP Sports Writer Stephen Hawkins in Dallas contributed to this report
The Texas Rangers withdrew their offer Sunday, and Delgado's agent, David Sloane, said the Mets had pulled out, too, although the team said it was awaiting a response. Sloane and the Mets talked again Monday, two people with knowledge of the talks said on condition of anonymity.
Florida and Baltimore also were trying to sign Delgado.
ADVERTISEMENT
While the field for Delgado narrowed, former Mets captain John Franco made his decision, agreeing Sunday to a $700,000, one-year contract with the Houston Astros. And the Yankees added a backup infielder, agreeing to a $600,000, one-year contract with Rey Sanchez, a deal subject to his passing a physical and finalization of contract language.
On Sunday night, after a conversation among Sloane, Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon and general manager Omar Minaya, New York was unsure where it stood.
``Jeff and I spoke to Mr. Sloane tonight, and we let him know we were trying to get a resolution on this matter this evening,'' Minaya said in a statement Sunday. ``He said he would convey those thoughts to Carlos, and he would call us back after speaking with Carlos. We have yet to receive that callback.''
With the Rangers, where Delgado would play became an issue Sunday.
``From the first conversation with the Texas Rangers, we made it crystal clear that Carlos Delgado had no interest in being a full-time DH,'' Sloane said. ``If we had 25 conversations with the Texas Rangers, we were told in 24 of those that the question of him playing first base was no issue. Earlier today, we were told that is changing and that 75 percent of his at-bats, should he choose to sign with the Texas Rangers, would come as a DH.
``After three months of negotiations, we were given less than five hours to tell them yes or no, to make a decision that affects not only the rest of Carlos Delgado's baseball career, but the rest of his life.''
Rangers owner Tom Hicks met with Delgado in Puerto Rico and offered a $48 million, four-year contract.
``Over the last few days, Tom Hicks and the organization reached out and made a very strong offer to Carlos Delgado,'' Texas general manager John Hart said. ``We had a great meeting with Carlos on Friday where we exceeded the limits of our initial proposal. As of this evening, however, we could not get a commitment from him, so we are withdrawing from discussions with him.
``He is a quality individual, but we want to continue to be committed with our young players and development plan. We have a first baseman in Mark Teixeira and other young players that we do not want to disrupt with potential position changes. Tom Hicks is not, and was not, afraid to spend money to add players like Carlos to our club.''
Hicks implied that the Rangers didn't want Delgado to use their offer as a springboard.
``We were clear that we were giving it our best shot Friday at the meeting. Others have now raised their offers, which is why we insisted on a deadline late this afternoon,'' he said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. ``We called them this morning to clarify that our interest in Carlos was restricted to him being a DH for 60-70 percent of the time, since we already have a great, young first baseman in Mark Teixeira.''
Franco, a 44-year-old left-hander, spent his first six seasons with the Cincinnati Reds and the last 15 with his hometown Mets. The four-time All-Star who is second to Lee Smith in career saves with 424, Franco was 2-7 with a 5.28 ERA last year.
``Change is good sometimes,'' he said. ``I've been here for 15 years. It's not going to kill me to be there for 81 days.''
Sanchez, 37, also was with the Yankees in the final weeks of the 1997 season, hitting .312 with one homer and 15 RBIs in 38 games. He batted .246 with two homers and 26 RBIs for Tampa Bay last season.
AP Sports Writer Stephen Hawkins in Dallas contributed to this report