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Mets get their man: Beltran new King of Queens

By Mitch Abramson

Only months after unveiling a new general manager in Queens native Omar Minaya, a new manager in Willie Randolph, and a new ace in Pedro Martinez, all in a rapid procession that screamed, “We're tired of being losers,” the Mets pulled off perhaps the biggest free-agent signing in team history, snagging the centerfielder for $119 million over seven years. Exuding confidence and the promise of youth, Beltran, 27, readied for his close-up and expertly – perhaps heeding the lessons of Randy Johnson's how-not-to-deal-with-the media explosion on Monday – answered 90 minutes worth of questions, from his desire to play for the Mets to the heaping dish of indifference served up by the Yankees who kept their wallets pocketed on this one.”Welcome to New York,” Minaya said in an uncharacteristically brief opening statement. And with that, the Carlos Beltran era began.”I feel proud to be part of the Mets,” he said. “With all the new players coming here, this organization is going in the right direction, and I want to tell the fans that we're going to compete and put on a good show for you. This is a dream come true.”The most popular question however, was if his signing with the Mets had been a dream deferred, an adequate Plan B when his first choice – the Yankees – who are predominantly everyone's first choice failed to make him a convincing offer.”The Yankees were spending a great amount of time resolving their pitching situation with Randy, and Carlos decided, after what he had heard from the Mets, that this was an option that fulfilled all of his goals in free-agency,” Scott Boras, Beltran's agent, said. “The Yankees were interested, but the issue was timing. George (Steinbrenner) was very gracious, but their primary goal was pitching.”A sticking point for Borus and Beltran was obviously money. Rather than wait for the Yankees to finish tying the bow on Johnson's new deal, they rushed to make the signing official on Tuesday because starting Wednesday, taxes will be increased on signing bonuses. As a result of a change in federal rules, it would have cost Beltran “hundreds of thousands of dollars,” if he had waited, Boras said. Beltran's signing bonus is $11 million.The Mets are launching a regional sports network next season, and rumor has it the Mets are filling its rosters with stars to make games must-see television next season. With that in mind, the Mets went after Beltran with the ferocity of a full-court press.Boras revealed that Minaya, appropriately worried that the Yankees might swoop in and nab him at the 11th hour, called Beltran 31 straight days beginning in Thanksgiving.”He would say, 'I'm calling again tomorrow, what time should I call?” Boras said.Mets owner, Fred Wilpon went so far as to fly out to Puerto Rico and even mentioned the Yankees as a possible final destination for the former rookie of the year, whose idol growing up in Puerto Rico was Bernie Williams.”He said that if I was comfortable with Houston than I shouldn't leave,” said Beltran, who spurned Houston's offer, where he played last season, because they didn't include a no-trade clause in their contract. “But if I wanted to go to a larger market that maybe I should consider either the Mets or the Yankees. That showed me the kind of person he is.”Never one to rest on his laurels, Minaya is now going after Carlos Delgado, a first basemen for Toronto last season.Who knows? Maybe another press-conference is in his future.Reach reporter Mitch Abramson at [email protected] or call 718-229-0300 Ext. 130.