"Any Met fans still holding their breath to see Gary Sheffield or Carlos Delgado back in the middle of the lineup should stop. Jerry Manuel is doubtful either injured slugger will play again this season.

When asked about Sheffield, the manager said, "I don't foresee him playing." And he described Delgado as "pretty close to being out" for the rest of the season.

That would also mean their tenure as Mets is probably over. Each becomes a free agent after this season.

Sheffield is batting .279 with a team-high 10 home runs in 95 games, but hasn't played the field since coming out of a game on Aug.26 (he pinch-hit on Aug.28). The team termed his injury "back spasms." Manuel said he tries to check in with Sheffield about whether he is available each day, but even pinch-hitting sounds out of the question.

"He's getting treatment, not quite responding well enough for him to get that bat going like he likes to get it going," Manuel said. "So I really don't foresee him in these next - how many of these games do we got left?"

Delgado hit .298 with four homers and 23 RBI in 26 games before a torn hip labrum required surgery. An August return was anticipated before he had a setback during the rehab process. He isn't doing baseball activities."