SAN FRANCISCO — The Mets’ actions and Jerry Manuel‘s words here today appeared to make Carlos Delgado‘s trip to the disabled list a foregone conclusion. The Mets had said they planned to wait until Sunday to decide on Delgado, but Manuel said a move is likely to come Saturday with the veteran slugger’s hip impingement showing little improvement.

The only thing seemingly still in question with Delgado is if he will need surgery on the hip, which could knock him out of action for two months or longer.

“We’re sneaking up on a decision here, and I can’t use the word ‘optimistic,”’ Manuel said before tonight’s game against the Giants at AT&T Park. “I can’t use that word.”

Manuel emphasized his pessimism by starting backup outfielder Jeremy Reed at first base for the first time in Reed’s professional career and by announcing Daniel Murphy will also get a start at first during the current 10-game trip.

The Mets had Murphy — who has struggled mightily in left field — take grounders at first base for about a half-hour today in pregame workouts.