Monday's signing of Esteban Loaiza could spell the end of Barry Zito's career in Oakland, given the team's surfeit of pitching and its need for a right-handed power hitter.

Outfielder Tike Redman's contract was purchased by the New York Mets on Monday from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Mets have landed coveted closer Billy Wagner in a four-year deal worth $43 million.

The Mets, unsated after getting first baseman Carlos Delgado from the Marlins, still are expected to make another push for Ramirez.

The Mets long have come in on the wrong side of their rivalry with the Braves, and now Atlanta might be making a serious run at one of the Mets' top free agent targets - closer Billy Wagner.

The Mets have made initial contract proposals to free-agent catchers Ramon Hernandez and Bengie Molina.

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The Mets are close to presenting free agent catcher Bengie Molina a contract offer.

The Diamondbacks pitched a trade of Javier Vazquez for Kris Benson and prospect Brian Bannister at the GM meetings.

The Mets have ruled out pursuing Alfonso Soriano, a person familiar with the team's thinking said.

Billy Wagner criticized the Phillies' efforts to retain him, telling the Mets' Web site his current team is "taking one step back to take one step forward" and calling the Mets' pursuit a "one-horse race.

The Mets reached a preliminary agreement Wednesday to acquire Delgado and $7 million from the Florida Marlins for first baseman Mike Jacobs and pitcher Yusmeiro Petit, a baseball official familiar with the talks said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the deal was not final.

Billy Wagner departed Shea Stadium at about 3:30 yesterday, and he did so with the Mets' first formal offer in hand.

The Mets appear to have surged into the lead in the Carlos Delgado sweepstakes.

The Mets want Billy Wagner to come to New York, and the bullpen ace sounds as if he likes their sales pitch.

There were indications on Monday that the Yankees may jump into the fray for Carlos Delgado.

An impending fire sale by the Marlins could directly benefit the Mets, but Luis Castillo or Paul Lo Duca appears more likely to land in Flushing than Carlos Delgado, who could be bound for Baltimore.

Omar Minaya now has options on Xavier Nady, along with a few extra dollars.

The San Diego Padres acquired outfielder Mike Cameron from the New York Mets for utility player Xavier Nady on Friday.

The Mets had another player meeting last night, this time with B.

Billy Wagner and Kenji Jojima will find out if they love New York during upcoming visits to the city.

Javier Vazquez, who asked for a trade from Arizona, would like to be dealt to the Mets, where he would reunite with Minaya, his former GM in Montreal.

The Padres reportedly have an eye on Mike Cameron, with reliever Akinori Otsuka among the possible players heading to Flushing if a deal were consummated.

The Mets contacted free agent Paul Konerko in a possible admission that Manny Ramirez, Carlos Delgado, Gary Sheffield and Adam Dunn will be difficult to acquire.

The Mets and Yankees likely will compete for several free agent relievers this winter as both teams reconstruct their bullpens, but they have slightly different roles in mind for flame-throwing righthander Kyle Farnsworth, whose agent has been contacted by both teams.

After guiding the Chiba Lotte Marines to their first Japan Series title in 31 years last month, Bobby Valentine has agreed to a three-year contract to remain with the team, the Japan Times reported.

Carlos Delgado chose the Marlins over the Mets while a free agent in January, and now, with the Marlins needing to slash payroll, he is being shopped around the general managers' meetings, according to an industry official.

The Daily News has learned that Mets general manager Omar Minaya is laying the foundation for a potential trade with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for closer Danys Baez and first baseman Aubrey Huff.

With Mike Piazza almost certainly headed to the American League, the Mets need a first-string catcher, and the free-agent market offers a few options.

The Mets not only have interest in trading for Manny Ramirez, they also believe that the Red Sox outfielder has interest in playing for them.

Only a month into the offseason, and already there's something different about David Wright.

The Mets are ready to beat any offer for Billy Wagner.

Carlos Delgado's agent expects the first baseman to remain a Marlin and not be available to the Mets via trade.

The Mets have expressed interest in bringing Octavio Dotel back in a setup role, a person familiar with the discussion said.

The Mets could add Trevor Hoffman to their shopping list of prospective closers now that he seems to be at an impasse with the Padres over a contract extension.

Rafael Furcal plans to consider the Mets.