Meet More Mets (Dec. 10): Omar Minaya returned from the Winter Meetings with a new catcher, Paul LoDuca, acquired from the Marlins at full retail -- pitching prospect Gaby Hernandez, and minor-league outfielder Dante Brinkley. LoDuca is likely to dress in his familiar No. 16, vacated by 2004's disappointing first-base experiment, Doug Mientkiewicz.

In other moves, the Mets made official minor-league contracts and spring training invites for lefty Matt Perisho, formerly of the Marlins and Jose Valentin, the former Brewer and White Sock infielder most recently with the Dodgers. Valentin has worn No. 22 most often in his career, but was 10 last year. Both are theoretically available as both Royce Ring 22 and Shingo Takatsu 10 have been booted from the 40-man roster.

Finally, the Mets bolstered the bench by handing an astonishing two-year contract to elderly pinch-hitter Julio Franco, who is so old they need two baseball cards just list his stats. Should Franco survive until opening day, at 47 he'd become the oldest Met ever (Warren Spahn in 1965 held the old record, followed closely by John Franco, who were both 44). Julio-down-by-the-boneyard has played for 7 MLB teams (one twice) and in Mexico and Japan in a variety of uniforms. Over the last five years with the hated Braves, he wore No. 14, not available here. We'd suggest 47, but that belongs to Tom Glavine. (We're joking with all the old-guy cracks, by the way, and know we'll be sick of them before long. As long as he can still hit, we're happy to have him aboard!)

Wagner Meets the Press (Dec. 1): Hours after introducing new Met first baseman Carlos Delgado the Mets rolled out the podium to introduce new closer Billy Wagner, reeled in on a four-year contract by free-spending Met GM Omar Minaya. Wagner will wear his customary No. 13  jersey, most recently worn by Brian Daubach and more famously by infielder Edgardo Alfonzo and early-80s closer Neil Allen.