Mets introduce Delgado to New York
New York, Nov. 29, 2005 -  

New York Mets new first baseman Carlos Delgado smiles as he poses with a bat on the field at Shea Stadium after he was introduced by Mets manager Willie Randolph and General Manager Omar Minaya.

The Mets showed off one of their prize offseason acquisitions on Monday, when slugging first baseman Carlos Delgado, acquired in a trade with the Marlins, was introduced to the New York media at the Diamond Club restaurant at Shea Stadium.

In a world in which Terrell Owens and others of self-importance often refer to themselves in the third person -- "Whatever is best for Terrell Owens" -- it's refreshing to hear Carlos Delgado speak. He has a full command of all his pronouns, and still doesn't lean too heavily on the first-person singular. The second-newest Met is quite familiar with "me," "myself" and "I," but prefers "us," "ourselves" and "we."

This is one of the reasons why the Mets are so pleased to have him in their clubhouse, on their roster and in their projected 2006 lineup. But make no mistake: If Delgado hit like Kelvin Torve, Roy Staiger or some other lesser luminaries of the team's past, the club wouldn't have traded for him and assumed such an enormous financial obligation.

Delgado, 33, comes with credentials that surpass even those that Mike Piazza brought when he made the Marlins-to-Mets move in 1998. Had Delgado spent his entire career with Mets -- or merely the 2000 and 2003 seasons -- and produced the same numbers, he would have owned the franchise record book. His single-season career bests in home runs (44), RBIs (145), slugging percentage (.664), on-base percentage (.470), extra-base hits (98) and doubles (57) exceed the Mets' records.

Mets introduce new closer Wagner at Shea
New York, Nov. 29, 2005 -  

New York mets pitcher Billy Wagner poses for photographs at Shea Stadium.

The Mets unveiled their latest offseason acquisition on Tuesday afternoon at Shea Stadium, as Billy Wagner met the New York media.

Oh, how New York loves the superlative! Whether it's the tallest, loudest, longest or slickest, New York will embrace almost anything that ends in "est" or that's preceded by "most" or "least." Best corned beef, worst traffic, most miles of subway track, shortest minute. New York has its Finest and Bravest, too.

Billy Wagner may or may not be the best relief pitcher in the National League. And any declaration that he is the premier reliever in the City of Superlatives undoubtedly will prompt fierce debate. But Wagner throws so hard, some say the hardest. And that is a distinction the Mets and their newest bandwagon jumpers already are celebrating now that Wagner has brought his 100-mph fastball, 284 career saves and a look-you-in-the-eye, rural charm to Shea Stadium.

The Mets identified him as the best closer available in a free agent market that included Trevor Hoffman, B.J. Ryan, Tom Gordon and Todd Jones and then added to his list of superlatives, making him the highest-paid reliever in baseball history, in terms of average annual income. The four-year, $43 million contract could have Wagner pitching in Shea II come 2009.

Mets finalize Nady-Cameron trade
New York, Nov. 18, 2005 -   The Mets finished a major part of their winter workload early, completing a deal Friday to acquire Xavier Nady from the Padres for Mike Cameron. "We envision him as a young player with power potential," GM Omar Minaya said Friday upon finalizing the swap.

Mets decline options on Heredia, Ishii
New York, Nov. 15, 2005 -   The New York Mets announced today that the team did not exercise the options on lefthanded pitchers Felix Heredia and Kazuhisa Ishii.

Cohen to call games on new SNY network
New York, Nov. 10, 2005 -   Gary Cohen is changing his perspective about the Mets. After 17 years in the radio booth at Shea Stadium, Cohen is moving two booths to the North to serve as the play-by-play man for the Mets' new cable television network, SportsNet NY.

Mets' Looper, Hernandez file for free agency
New York, Nov. 4, 2005 -   The filing for free agency of Braden Looper and Roberto Hernandez on Friday removed from the Mets' roster the two pitchers who had the most relief innings on the team and who most often were entrusted with the eighth and ninth innings in 2005.

McDowell latest former Met to land job
New York, Nov. 2, 2005 -   The Braves' pitching coach no longer rocks in his dugout seat. He is more likely to set a small fire under the bench. Roger McDowell, the former Mets reliever and prankster, has replaced Leo Mazzone, who sat on the flank of Bobby Cox for 15 years.

Mientkiewicz joins free agent market
New York, Nov. 1, 2005 -   A day after the Mets declined the 2006 option for Doug Mientkiewicz, the former Gold Glove first baseman on Tuesday filed for free agency.