"Carlos Delgado may have played his last game as a Met.

The first baseman, who will be a free agent this winter, admitted yesterday that a return this season is highly unlikely. Delgado's surgically repaired hip acted up last week when he tried to run, the latest setback for the 37-year-old.

"I was trying to run again outside this week and it didn't feel very good afterwards," Delgado said. "We don't have very much time. I don't want to rule anything out.

"We'll see how it is over the weekend, and I guess we'll have to make a decision."

Mets manager Jerry Manuel sounded pessimistic when asked about Delgado before last night's game with the Nationals at Citi Field.

"I think time is running out for him," Manuel said before last night's 6-5 loss to the Nationals. "I think he's had a couple of setbacks in the time that we were gone that could possibly prevent him from playing for us this season."

Delgado last played for the Mets on May 10 before being shelved with a right hip impingement. "