Sports

TEXAS TWO-STEP – RANGERS BACK OFF, METS JUMP TO FRONT OF DELGADO DERBY

Texas officially backed off its hard-and-fast deadline with Carlos Delgado yesterday, as Saturday’s frenetic bidding for the free-agent slugger extended the Delgado derby.

Last night was originally deemed the take-it-or-leave-it moment for Delgado, who received his first guaranteed four-year offer from the Rangers on Friday afternoon. A Texas contingent led by owner Tom Hicks made a strong effort to snag the 32-year-old first baseman but attached an ultimatum to the offer.

But yesterday afternoon, a team source told The Post Hicks misspoke when he drew a line in the sand. The source added that as long as the Rangers are still in the loop of communication as negotiations proceed with David

Sloane, Delgado’s agent, they’d be happy.

Obviously, at a delicate point in negotiations, the Rangers didn’t want to do anything to offend Delgado.

As of early yesterday evening, the Mets had a “head up” on the other contenders for the services of the free-agent slugger, and Mets GM Omar Minaya was expected to speak to Sloane at least one more time yesterday evening.

As reported in yesterday’s Post, the Mets decided to match Texas’ offer, going four years and close to $48 million.

Sloane spoke with all four teams yesterday.

“Following these discussions, we now have a pretty clear picture of the landscape as it presently exists,” Sloane emailed to reporters. “We anticipate talking further tomorrow and hope we’ll be able to have a final decision very soon.”

Reportedly, one hang-up about the Mets’ offer is the team’s reluctance to issue no-trade protection. But the Mets have the edge with the Marlins in that Florida’s proposal is loaded with more deferred money.

If Delgado chooses the Mets over the Marlins, one source said, it would be because of that reason.

Baltimore, which was considered dead in the water as late as Saturday morning, has also reportedly offered a four-year pact that the agent considers strong.

However, the Orioles are still not considered the frontrunners – in the eyes of another person familiar with negotiations – unless Delgado turns his back on his stated desire to play for a winner and simply signs with the team that antes up the most cash.

It’s possible, but both Delgado and Orioles owner Peter Angelos will come off as huge hypocrites if they make a deal.

“I think the real story is that some of the demands coming from these players are absolutely outrageous,” Angelos said the day before his front office improved its offer.

“Baseball was on the right track until this recent spate of agreements.”

Indeed, Sloane wanted a five-year, $80 million deal, something that is not likely to happen even if this negotiation stretches into next January.

Reportedly, all four teams now have proposals of four years on the table in some fashion, be it an option year or guaranteed.

The first priority?

It’s no secret that first baseman Carlos Delgado is not among the most reliable in the field. A look at his statistics over the past eight seasons:

YEAR GAMES ERRORS

1997 119 12

1998 141 10

1999 147 14

2000 162 13

2001 161 9

2002 140 12

2003 147 10

2004 120 5