…i’m not sure sure i was keen on bringing in Millwood to begin with…outside of 2009, Millwood hasn’t exactly been stellar in the past four years despite winning 48 games…i think getting him out of Texas would be beneficial for him but i don’t think taking on that contract at his age is a wise move anyway…

In addition, Hubbuch says the Mets are not expected to make any major moves until the Winter Meetings and the Mets top priority is a left fielder but are keeping contact with the agents for John Lackey, Joel Pineiro, and Randy Wolf as possible additions to the rotation.

…i understand that they feel a need for offense, and while they need to improve the lineup i can’t help but worry that the Mets will be on an all out pursuit for offense, and somehow forget that there is a great need to improve the pitching staff…

Hubbuch also says that the Mets are considering bringing back Carlos Delgado if he proves to be healthy during winter ball, and David Lennon of Newsday says that Omar Minaya will be speaking with Delgado this week when he visits Puerto Rico about a possible return.

…i’m still iffy on bringing back Delgado, although i have always liked him…i think the team should be looking to move on from Delgado, although it would be hard to argue with bringing him back if all other possibilities fall through…

For more on this, check out the New York Post here, and Newsday here.

…i like Delgado and i always have liked Delgado but i agree with Matt in that it’s time to move on and get younger and more athletic…i fear that if the Mets bring him back for another year, he just won’t be durable or dependable enough…

Yesterday, Carlos Beltran told reporters at an event in Harlem that he would like to see Delgado return next season, which you can read about here.

In addition, Hubbuch says that the Mets are expecting “a glut” of non-tendered players in December, and will look hard at them as they become available.

…the way the economics of baseball have changed, being non-tendered these days isn’t always performance based…it’s not to say that the Mets shouldn’t pursue the marquis free agent class or make trades for upgrades, but there are often economic reasons as to why a team might non-tender a productive player…

…that is disappointing to me…i am a believer that if the player is not on a rehab assignment, he should be with his team in the dugout during games…i know there are always personal reasons as to why players do certain things but i still believe he should be there…

Meanwhile, Jose Reyes will attempt to run on Saturday, but Manuel believes that it is a long shot that he will see any action in the final week of the season.,

With regards to his setbacks, Delgado told reporters:

“It’s been frustrating… just because right around the All-Star break things were going very, very well and we were planning to go out and run and eventually move over to baseball activities, and had a little flare-up. We had to back off and things weren’t going that good… then around August I went down to Port St. Lucie and I started running and doing my baseball activities and had a little flare-up… for a while things were going really, really good, really fast, and then all of a sudden it’s not so great.”

On returning to the Mets in 2010,  he said:

“I like it here…We have a great team.  You walk in this clubhouse, you’ve got a chance to win.  Obviously, we’ve got to get healthier, but I think we’re in the process of doing that… I haven’t really talked to the front office in regards to that, but if that’s the case, I’d love coming back.”

Delgado was then asked if he thinks he can still be the same player that he was, to which he said, “Absolutely.  Not a doubt.”

…i certainly wouldn’t think he would campaign to return to the team and say he can’t be what they need him to be…

…as much as i like delgado, i really think that there are just too many risks involved in bringing him back, even if it is on a one-year deal… he has been challenged by this injury since 2008, and this year it cost him the entire season and the club really cannot afford to have a black hole at first base again next season…

…in my mind, sentimental reasons alone are not enough to sign a player to a contract if you are trying to win…

Delgado said that he has been working towards coming back and he had been running this week but “didn’t feel good afterwards.”

Delgado doesn’t want to rule anything out but will make a decision on returning as he goes through this weekend.

Delgado did say that his hip did in fact flare up, but after being checked by doctors, the structure of the hip is fine, as “what they fixed is still fixed.”

On returning to the Mets for 2010, Delgado said that he does like it in New York, but wasn’t totally clear on whether or not he wants to return.

Manuel told reporters:

“It’s disappointing in that Carlos Delgado is a big part of the leadership core of the team and to not see him back is hard to take because you thought we’d get him back at some point in August.”

Delgado, who is currently recovering from hip surgery and a strained oblique muscle, did take batting practice indoors yesterday at Turner Field.

In addition, Costa is reporting that Jose Reyes, who said last week that he would soon test his injured hamstring, is still only receiving massages on his leg.

Sheffield has not appeared since August 28 as a pinch hitter in the Mets 5-2 loss to the Cubs, and has not started since August 24 in a 6-2 loss to the Phillies, and is currently suffering from back spasms.

Delgado was on his way back from surgery on a torn labrum in his hip before straining an oblique muscle in August, and he is not currently performing any baseball activities.

Delgado was hitting .298 with four home runs and 23 RBI in 26 games before being shutdown completely on May 10.

Both players will be free agents at the end of the season.

He will remain inactive for two weeks, before resuming baseball activities.

…i’d think delgado had been working to come back as much for the Mets as he was for himself, since he’s going to be a free agent at the end of this season… much like i wrote about with wagner yesterday, Eddie Bajek and MLB Trade Rumors predict delgado will be a Type B free agent… meaning, if he’s offered arbitration by the Mets, they can net a compensatory draft pick if delgado leaves to sign with a new team…

…in other words, there will be a lot less questions for all sides involved if delgado can at least get back on the field this season and start hitting again, which now seems unlikely given this recent set back…

Meanwhile, Carlos Beltran and his knee brace also took live batting practice, after which he shagged roughly 30 fly balls in the outfield.

Beltran later told reporters he felt some pain in his right knee, but it’s less painful than it was six weeks ago.

“It’s getting better, little by little,” Beltran said.

Both Delgado and Beltran will join Jose Reyes and John Maine in Port St. Lucie tomorrow to continue their rehab.

…from what i can gather, the Mets are quietly hoping to get both beltran and delgado back in two weeks or so… though, that will depend on whether each can run the bases in the next few days… the big thing for both players, as well as reyes, will be running hard and sliding, it seems… until that happens, it’s all a big bowl of Who Knows…

“I’m going to be ready when I’m going to be ready,” Delgado said.

…i would think the same can be said for the rest of the guys on the disabled list… as well as you and i, for that matter…

Billy Wagner pitched a perfect inning Friday for Single-A St. Lucie, where he will throw again tonight.

…the way i understand it, wagner will keep up this pace, then eventually move to pitching back-to-back days… he’ll do that for a bit, after which talk of him joining the Mets will begin… i’m still thinking mid-month…

Yesterday, J.J. Putz tossed 25 pitches in a bullpen session in Citi Field, where he will throw again Wednesday.

He told reporters he hopes to be back in three weeks, though he’ll know more following his session on Wednesday.

…i suspect putz will have the same schedule as wagner, basically… so, wherever billy is, j.j. will be a week or so behind…

Carlos Beltran took live batting practice on the field Saturday, and hit from both sides of the plate in a 20-minute session.

…from what i can gather, Jose Reyes will do light running today in St. Lucie, but he is taking it slow… as is John Maine, who is still idle, resting, and waiting out discomfort in his shoulder…