The Baltimore Orioles are interested in signing Carlos Delgado and one of Major League Baseball's top first basemen wants to join them, according to the Washington Post.
<!-- esi: /widget/story/videoAndPhotoGallery?contentId=3133696-->The newspaper says the agent for Delgado, David Sloane, has placed the Orioles at the top of his wish list.
"Baltimore, we are most significantly interested in," Sloane said. "It's a great place to hit. Hitting in that batting order is very interesting to us."
The 32-year-old Delgado has spent all 12 of his Major League seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, who appear to be the Orioles' toughest competitors.
The Blue Jays have spoken with Sloane on several occasions about the possibility of re-signing Delgado. And general manager J.P. Ricciardi says the two sides will continue to talk until Nov. 11, the last day teams have exclusive negotiating rights with their own free agents.
On Nov. 12, other teams can begin to bid on free agents.
"We're as optimistic as you can be," Ricciardi told The Post. We would like to bring him back. There's nothing for us to bid on. We're just going to keep our avenues open. We're going to let itself play out."
The Orioles, meanwhile, are very interested in an upgrade at first base. Veteran Rafael Palmeiro played 130 games there last season, but he will likely be used almost exclusively as a designated hitter in 2005.
Despite missing 33 games due to a strained rib cage last season, Delgado hit .269 with 32 home runs and 99 RBI's. The Orioles declined to comment on Delgado. But Sloane added the slugger is looking to sign with a team that would help him reach the playoffs for the first time.
<!-- esi: /widget/story/videoAndPhotoGallery?contentId=3133696-->The newspaper says the agent for Delgado, David Sloane, has placed the Orioles at the top of his wish list.
"Baltimore, we are most significantly interested in," Sloane said. "It's a great place to hit. Hitting in that batting order is very interesting to us."
The 32-year-old Delgado has spent all 12 of his Major League seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, who appear to be the Orioles' toughest competitors.
The Blue Jays have spoken with Sloane on several occasions about the possibility of re-signing Delgado. And general manager J.P. Ricciardi says the two sides will continue to talk until Nov. 11, the last day teams have exclusive negotiating rights with their own free agents.
On Nov. 12, other teams can begin to bid on free agents.
"We're as optimistic as you can be," Ricciardi told The Post. We would like to bring him back. There's nothing for us to bid on. We're just going to keep our avenues open. We're going to let itself play out."
The Orioles, meanwhile, are very interested in an upgrade at first base. Veteran Rafael Palmeiro played 130 games there last season, but he will likely be used almost exclusively as a designated hitter in 2005.
Despite missing 33 games due to a strained rib cage last season, Delgado hit .269 with 32 home runs and 99 RBI's. The Orioles declined to comment on Delgado. But Sloane added the slugger is looking to sign with a team that would help him reach the playoffs for the first time.