They say no news is good news. But as baseball fans wait for word of their favorite free agents signing for big bucks with a new
club, no news 1s sheer agony.
Carlos Delgado, the former Toronto Blue Jays slugger, who is on the elite list of 2005 free agents, isn't sitting around waiting for the phone to ring.
The power-hitting first baseman visited the pediatric wards of two San Juan hospitals Wednesday to hand out toys as part of his Extra Bases Foundation organization, and said he's in no hurry to sign a contract. 'Sometimes it's better to wait,"said Delgado during a break from his Santa Claus duties at Auxilio Mutuo hospital in Hato Rey. "When you wait you see how the market is going and you set your value.”
Delgado, whose last deal - for $68 m&on over four years - earned him $17 million per season, reiterated that he and his agent, David Sloan, are in conversations with a handful of teams. He also insisted that when he does sign, it will he for a team he wants to play for and not just for the money.
"At this point, the talks are preliminary said Delgado, who hit ,269 with 32 homers this past season. "there is nothing concrete." 
Two newspapers in the new york area on wednesday reported that Mets GM Omar Minaya is interested in the services of Delgado.
According to a report in the Bergen (Country, N.J.) record, two baseball executives say the Mets "have now set slugging first baseman Carlos Delgado as their primary target, putting together an offer in excess of $40 million over three years,hoping to secure a bat the anchor the lineup and filling the teams biggest hole on defense."
Delgado would not go into detail about which teams are wing for his services, but reiterated that it was still early in the talks stages.
Delgado handed out toys at the Centro Médico pediatric ward and at Auxilio Mutuo Wednesday as part of his philanthropic work for his Extra Bases Foundation, which has raised an estimated $300,000 for 11 nonprofit children's organizations in Puerto Rico.
The Aguadilla native will be in Mayagüez on Monday to hand out toys to the children of San Antonio hospital and will do the same later in the day at Buen Samaritano hospital in his hometown.
Betsaida García, Delgado’s girlfriend who helps organizes these activities, said the couple enjoys seeing the children's faces.
“Between me and Carlos we have seven nieces and nephews and we are blessed that all of them are healthy, so it gives us a lot of happiness to be able to help out in this small way” said García
On Thursday at Auxilio Mutuo, the smaller children seemed more impressed with the three kings who accompanied Delgado on his mission than with the ball player himself. four-year-old Lisandra Vélez did not know who Carlos Delgado was, hut was happy to accept a gift. her eyes rermained riverted to the sight of Baltasar, Gaspar and Melchor, whom she recognized instantly.
The Three Kings, along with Payateros "softball" band, brought lively accompaniment in the hallways, as Delgado fielded questions about his major league status from the parents accompanying the children.
While Delgado and the Payateros are veterans of this type of activity, The Three Kings were making their philanthropic debut Thursday and seemed to be enjoying the attention. Gabriel Vargas, 18; and 17-years-olds Francisco Ortíz and Julio Rivera, all at least six feet tall, were on loan from the Puerto Rico baseball academy high school especially for the job.
At 6-foot-4 and wearing crowns, Ortíz and Vargas, both pitchers, were a head taller than the 6-2 Delgado, making for a lot of ducking in doorways.
