Hours after the Mets ended a press conference welcoming Carlos Delgado to New York yesterday, the team and Wagner agreed to terms on a four-year, $43 million deal.

A person familiar with the situation said the deal - which features a no-trade clause and a luxury box at Shea - includes a fifth-year option for $8 million or a $1 million buyout. That would push it to $50 million, which would be more than the surprising five-year, $47 million deal B.J. Ryan agreed to with Toronto over the weekend - a record for a reliever.

Wagner told The Post the deal wasn't finalized yet, but he was ready to be the next newcomer to don a Met uniform.

"Yeah, we're very excited," he said. "I think coming to New York and seeing the hospitality and how everybody was treating me and my wife, that's great."

Wagner, a fireballing lefty closer with 284 career saves, enjoyed his recent visit to New York so much, he's willing to stay through 2010 if all goes well.

"What topped off everything was two things: just how we were treated in New York, and how Fred and Jeff Wilpon were very honest and up-front with us - and we liked that," Wagner said.

He appeared in 75 games in 2005, going 4-3 with a 1.51 ERA and 38 saves. The Mets, after losing confidence in Braden Looper, targeted Wagner as a priority.

Looper blew three straight save chances in September and only converted 28 in 36 opportunities. Wagner only blew three saves the entire season.

Wagner's agent, Bean Stringfellow, was expected to finalize negotiations in the Big Apple today. A press conference is expected this afternoon if Wagner passes a physical.

The 34-year-old pitcher is expected to leave for vacation on Thursday.

Team officials would not comment on the situation, but Phillies GM Pat Gillick reportedly told the media that Wagner is headed to New York.

After Wagner visited the area Nov. 21 and was taken on a housing tour around Greenwich, Conn., and Westchester County, the Mets made an initial offer of three years and about $30 million with a fourth-year option for $10 million.

But in the wake of Ryan's pact, the club guaranteed the fourth year - even though Wagner is 41/2 years older than Ryan. Wagner, who earned $9 million last season, will make $10.5 million each of the next four years.

The fifth year might kick in after a certain number of games, such as 60, because that's how the original option year in the offer was structured.

The Mets pulled out all the stops in wooing Wagner. They visited him in his Virginia home. They sent him a DVD that explained the area's housing market and schools and included testimonials and game footage.

Mets lefty Tom Glavine was part of a contingent that welcomed Wagner, a self-described country boy, to the Big Apple. The former Astros and Phillies closer deftly handled a press conference at Shea Stadium before he left town, and he was excited about the acquisition of Delgado.

Minaya is blowing away the field as far as Executive of the Year goes, although the award isn't handed out until after the season. But after clearing money with the Mike Cameron trade, acquiring Delgado and signing Wagner, he has addressed three major issues.

More will follow. Offers are out to free-agent catchers Ramon Hernandez and Bengie Molina. Although both catchers received similar three-year offers, Hernandez badly wants to come to Shea and the Mets prefer him.

Although Minaya still has his sights set on Boston slugger Manny Ramirez, he made no progress over the weekend. The trade talks with Boston are expected to heat up at next week's winter meetings in Dallas.

But who knows? If Minaya keeps this blistering rate up, both Ramirez and Hernandez or Molina could be Mets long before then.

michael.morrissey@...

Meet Mr. Wagner

NAME: William Edward Wagner.

BIRTHDATE: July 25, 1971.

BIRTHPLACE: Tannersville, Va.

HEIGHT-WEIGHT: 5-11, 201.

BATS-THROWS: Left, Left.

COLLEGE: Ferrum.

EXPERIENCE: 10 years.

TEAMS: Houston Astros, eight seasons; Philadelphia Phillies, two seasons.

2005 SALARY: $9 million.

STATS INC. SAYS: Wagner's signature pitch is a 100-mph fastball. And while it can be almost unhittable when it's riding up in the zone, Wagner is more than just a thrower. He's developed a better sense of pitching in and out and keeps hitters off balance with a slider that he usually throws between 86-90 mph. He is clearly one of the game's best closers.