[bigboydan]

wtf are the mets thinking signing this guy to a contract like that. that is just flat out stupid, with history of arm problems.

By ANTHONY McCARRON
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

On the same day they officially introduced Carlos Delgado at a Shea press conference, the Mets also added the elite closer they coveted by agreeing to a four-year, $43 million deal with free agent Billy Wagner, the Daily News has confirmed.

The agreement is pending a physical. There is also an option for a fifth year, which would be worth $10 million.

Wagner, a 34-year-old lefthander who was 4-3 with 38 saves and a 1.51 ERA for the Phillies last season, was one of the Mets’ top targets this off-season. He visited New York last week and left with a three-year offer worth more than $30 million, but it seems the price of top relievers rose after B.J. Ryan agreed to a five-year, $47 million deal with Toronto.

The Mets knew they had to up the ante for Wagner — at the Delgado press conference, Met bigwig Jeff Wilpon acknowledged that Ryan’s contract “certainly doesn’t make our job any easier. When I heard that, I said, ‘Whoa.’ ”

The Phillies were trying to re-sign Wagner, who has 284 saves in his 11-year career, and the Braves and Red Sox were also seeking his services.

Originally published on November 28, 2005

[Illusion]

It looks like the Mets will be a great fade next year with all of these recent signings.

[bigboydan]

it's still too early to tell yet ILL. IMO