Impact Analysis: Carlos Delgado, New York Mets

November 11, 2008 @ 00:00:00

By Owen Kinsky
Edited by Herija C. Green

Thanks in large part to a strong performance in the second half last season that helped the New York Mets nearly secure a postseason berth, first baseman Carlos Delgado was retained by the team as his 2009 option was exercised. The 36-year-old slugger was considered by many to be on his last legs, with little left to offer the Mets other than the occasional home run. However, after the All-Star break, Delgado reverted back to his old ways, which consisted of smacking the ball all over the field. Due to his strong second half, he was even mentioned as an NL MVP candidate. Though he showed he can still hit at 36, the question remains - can he do the same next season?

Which Delgado will show up in 2009?

Delgado endured one of the worst seasons of his career in 2007, and he had started poorly in 2008 before turning it around. In 2007, Delgado played in only 139 games, accumulating 24 homers and 87 RBIs, all while hitting .258 with a .333 on-base percentage. This season had many assuming that his career was winding down, mainly due to his drop in power. The 24 homers were the fewest Delgado had hit since becoming a full-time player in 1996.

The same went for his RBI count, which also was the lowest of his career for a full season. However, a look at his splits shows that his poor 2007 stats were due in large to a terrible April, a month in which he hit .188 with only one home run. He improved from there, but it is obvious that his April numbers held down his stats for the year.

Following the 2007 season, Delgado re-evaluated his swing, going back to the basics and hitting off of a tee. He did that until he had committed his mechanics to the point they were second nature, and then he moved up to batting cages and batting practice. Delgado was adamant that it was a flaw in his swing, and not being over the hill, that was to blame for his poor 2007.

When the 2008 season began, Delgado again started slowly in April, hitting .204 with three homers and a .299 OBP. This poor stat line could partially be attributed to the Mets' April schedule as Delgado has been a better hitter on the road. In 2006, Delgado hit 78 points higher away from Shea Stadium. The trend continued in '07, as Delgado hit 63 points higher on the road, and last year was no different as he batted .283 away - 25 points better than his .258 home average. This pertains to April 2008, where 14 of his 25 games were at home, a place where he tends to struggle.

Delgado continued to struggle through June, with his turnaround coming in July. Delgado hit .357 with nine homers and 24 RBIs that month, his best of the season and one that got him back on track. Though Delgado struggled with his average in August, he maintained his power numbers, still managing to hit seven homers with 24 RBIs. He closed the season strong, hitting .340 with eight homers and 22 RBIs - his fourth straight month of at least 20 - to help keep the Mets in the hunt.

Was the extension worth it?

Delgado was retained for 2009 for $12 million as opposed to being bought out, which would have still cost the Mets $4 million - meaning in essence keeping him cost them $8 million, since they were committed to $4 million regardless. Financially and performance-wise, the choice was seemingly an easy one for the Mets.

First off, despite rumblings that a shift to designated hitter may be in his future, Delgado remains a serviceable first sacker. While he may never be mistaken for Chicago Cubs first baseman Derek Lee, Delgado is surrounded by an excellent defensive infield and doesn't hurt the team with his glove.

Secondly, the Mets are moving to a new stadium, Citi Field, next year. Since no games have been played there yet, it's impossible to know how individual hitters will fare there. However, it will be shorter down the right field line, checking in at only 330 feet. This should help the left-handed hitting Delgado, while playing in a new home stadium could also help reverse his current home field struggles.

Finally, the Mets really had no other options at first. Had they let Delgado walk, first baseman Mark Teixeira (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim) was the only option in free agency that would have been a definite upgrade over Delgado. However, Teixeira could earn nearly double Delgado's 2009 salary of $12 million, and the Mets appear content to save the money and ride it out with Delgado at first.

Fantasy baseball outlook

It is clear that Delgado still holds some value in fantasy realms as when healthy, he's almost guaranteed to post more than 30 home runs. However, as with most older players, fantasy owners should temper their expectations. Delgado turns 37 in June 2009, and a 162-game season wears on a player.

For 2009 drafts, consider Delgado a solid mid-round draft pick but don't bank on a repeat of 2008. There's minimal upside associated with the veteran, which means overreaching to select him would be a bad move. That said, Delgado remains a legitimate starting option in all formats, but look to hedge your bets with a solid upside selection at the position later in the draft.

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Owen Kinsky
Owen Kinsky is a KFFL contributor that has been an avid sports fan his entire life. He began playing fantasy sports, both football and baseball, back in 2000. His love of writing and the game of baseball brought him to KFFL in 2008.

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