"Carlos Beltran is back. John Maine is on his way back. Next up: Carlos Delgado?

Mets manager Jerry Manuel said Wednesday that Delgado's status has been "upgraded" and that the first baseman could return for the last two weeks of the regular season. Delgado, who is coming off hip surgery and a strained oblique muscle, hasn't played since May 10.

Manuel said the oblique is no longer an issue. Delgado was at Citi Field for a team photo but was not available to comment.

He is 37 and will be a free agent this winter, so he has no shortage of motivation to return, even if only for the last week or two."