Delgado takes 21 (Nov. 28): In meeting the press and Willie Randolph today, newly acquired first baseman Carlos Delgado said goodbye to jersey No. 25, and his beard, both of which he can no longer wear. Taking No. 21 instead, Delgado explained that 25 belongs to Kaz Matsui, though MBTN suggests you don't spend all your Christmas money on a new Delgado jersey pending Matsui's survival of this winter's hot stove.

Delgado (not Wilson ... Carlos!) to the Mets (Nov. 23): The Mets today announced they would acquire slugging first baseman Carlos Delgado and 7 million U.S. Dollars from the Marlins, giving up promising young hitter Mike Jacobs 27 and alleged phenom pitcher Yusmeiro Petit in return. That this is a dynamite deal for the Mets should be obvious: Delgado fills the need for another threatening bat in the lineup and they didn't need to cough up Lastings Milledge to get him. This of course isn't the first time the Mets have picked up luxury goods on the cheap in a Marlin liquidation: The 1998 sell-off produced Dennis Cook 27, Al Leiter 22 and Mike Piazza 31, all key players in the last respectable Met era.

Considering the strenous attempt to land Delgado last off-season, we expect the Mets will provide Delgado with all the comforts he deems necessary, which means Kaz Matsui 25 might find a new jersey hanging in his locker this spring (presuming it says "Mets" on the front, that is). We argued back in '03 that Matsui should have been issued 77 and would still like to see it.

Speaking of Marlin giveaways, the Mets quietly provided X-Marlin lefty reliever Matt Perisho with a minor league contract and invite to Spring Training. Perisho wore 46 with the Marlins last season.

The X-Man Cometh (Nov. 16): That miscast, broken-faced outfielder Mike Cameron 44 would be traded was fairly predictable; receiving reserve Padres 1B/OF Xavier Nady in return was the surprise. Nady, who smavcks lefties around pretty well and can fake it at several positions, looks to be a useful pickup but it's sad the Mets never fully exploited Cameron's ability as a center fielder nor as a trade chip. Nady by the way wore No. 22 with the Padres. That number most recently belonged to reliever Royce Ring.