MLB

What do do with Delgado?

MIAMI — Buying out the final year of Carlos Delgado’s contract seemed like a no-brainer for the Mets as recently as June 25, when the veteran first baseman was hitting just .229 with a .396 slugging percentage. Conventional wisdom at the time was, pay the $4 million to part company with the grumpy 36-year-old slugger, then money-whip Mark Teixeira with the savings to convince him to come to Queens.

Funny what can happen in two months. Freed from his apparent nemesis Willie Randolph, Delgado has gone on a tear under the more relaxed Jerry Manuel and is suddenly considered an MVP candidate after putting together two-homer games twice this week alone.

In the 56 games since June 25, Delgado is hitting .310 with a .648 slugging percentage, 19 homers and 58 RBIs. It’s safe to say Jerry Manuel isn’t exaggerating too much when he says Delgado is carrying the Mets offensively these days.

The question remains, though, whether this means the Mets should automatically pick up the final year of Delgado’s contract at $12 million (or $16 million if he reaches certain benchmarks that include MVP voting).

After all, Delgado will be 37 by next fall, and he’s still capable of some lengthy and wicked slumps. Teixeira, meanwhile, is eight years younger and could be a long-term part of the Mets’ foundation.

As we sit here in Miami on a rare Mets off day, tell us what you think …