For the first time since Mike Piazza, the New York Mets have a player — Carlos Beltran — who is in the prime of his career. It's the kind thing the Mets didn't make in the past when they had a chance at free agents such as Vladimir Guerrero and Alex Rodriguez. Beltran's signing, along with that of Pedro Martinez earlier this offseason, has transformed the Mets' image in the baseball world and has underscored that they are serious about winning.

Money lands superstars
Beltran is a five-tool player, but the issue of the money the Mets reportedly gave him ($119 million, seven years) jumps out on everyone's radar screen. But how else, besides what appears to some as overpaying, would the Mets lure Beltran to Shea Stadium?

When you've had four losing years in a row, and are playing in one of the older ballparks in the league, you are not going to attract a player like Beltran without overpaying. The Mets' ownership was willing to make that commitment.

They weren't in the past, but a change now is the influence of new general manager Omar Minaya, who is very aggressive is his pursuit of players and apparently able to convince ownership as to why his ideas make sense.

Mets' ownership promised Minaya autonomy, and they delivered. They also delivered the money he needed to make his bold moves.

Minaya may have all the persuasiveness in the world, but unless he has the money to go with it, big-name free-agent signings aren't likely. Beltran and Martinez signed with the Mets, but let's not forget they took the highest offer.

Also key is the Mets' new television network, which launches in the spring of 2006 and which needs marquee players and stars like Beltran and Martinez to increase its attractiveness to potential subscribers.

Boosting the offense
At 27, Beltran is a player who can take a major role in transforming the Mets dramatically. A lot has been made of his offense benefiting from playing part of last season in Houston, a hitter's ballpark. But he also hit well on the road, and that should not be overlooked, especially when debating how he will adapt to hitting at Shea, a pitcher's ballpark.

And look at the speed the Mets now have at the top of their order with Jose Reyes, Kaz Matsui and Beltran. The Mets are now faster and more athletic than they have been in the recent past.

Another plus with putting Beltran third in the order is to allow other Mets to move to other spots where they will be more comfortable hitting. Perhaps the biggest of these moves will be sliding Mike Cameron into the eighth spot. He'll still hit his share of homers, but his tendency to strike out so much may have less damaging effect on the offense since he's hitting before the pitcher.

Free agent's kind of town
In Martinez's four-year deal, many raised questions about the back end of that contract, and how much Martinez would have left in his pitching arm. Martinez will be 38 at the end of his contract.

But there is no such worry with Beltran, who will be 34 at the end of his contract. The next seven years should be the most productive of his career.

Through the work of Minaya, Hispanic players must now feel the Mets are a comfortable team to play for. But it's not only Hispanic players who are realizing the change in the team.

That will benefit the Mets when they get a substantial amount of payroll flexibility back over the next couple of seasons.

After this season, Mike Piazza's deal is up, and after the 2006 season the contracts of Tom Glavine, Cameron, Cliff Floyd, and Matsui are done.

That said, it's winning — and money — that attract free agents, and the Mets hope to offer both in years to come.

Moving on up
The Mets still have moves to make this offseason. They need to address a gaping hole at first base, decide if they really want to go with Cameron and Floyd to flank Beltran in the outfield, and — like many teams — keep shopping for middle relief.

But as of today, compared to the final day of last season, the Mets are immeasurably better.

They added an ace in Martinez, and the rotation behind him: Glavine, Kris Benson, Steve Trachsel, and Victor Zambrano should rival the better starting staffs in the league.

The acquisition of Beltran speaks for itself, and it should help Piazza see some better pitches, perhaps rejuvenating his bat in the process.

The Mets can contend for at least a wild-card spot.

And what's more, perhaps Beltran put it best at Tuesday's news conference when he said, "I feel proud to be part of . . . the new Mets. I call it 'the new Mets' because this organization is going to a new direction, the right direction, the direction of winning."

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