The Mets picked up the $12 million option on the contract of Carlos Delgado for the 2009 season on Friday. Delgado hit .271 with 38 homers and 115 RBIs even after a rough start to the season. "Carlos is a key part of our plans for 2009, and we wanted to let him know as quickly as allowed that we wanted him back," Mets general manager Omar Minaya said in a statement. "Yesterday -- the day following the conclusion of the World Series -- was the first day that we could pick up the option per the contract. It was our full intent to promptly close our deal with Carlos, and that's what we did."