MIAMI - Carlos Delgado was traded to the Mets by the cost-cutting Marlins on Thursday for first baseman Mike Jacobs and two minor-leaguers.
The Mets also receive $7-million from the Marlins to help cover the $48-million Delgado is owed the next three seasons. The minor-leaguers going to Florida are pitcher Yusmeiro Petit and infielder Grant Psomas.
The teams reached a preliminary agreement on the deal Wednesday, but it needed to be approved by the commissioner's office because more than $1-million is changing hands.
Also, the Marlins and Red Sox completed their trade that sends ace Josh Beckett and third baseman Mike Lowell to Boston, but not before reliever Guillermo Mota was added to a deal that netted Florida four prospects.
Florida gets top shortstop prospect Hanley Ramirez along with pitchers Harvey Garcia, Anibal Sanchez and Jesus Delgado.
The two trades cut Florida's payroll, which was $60-million at the start of last season, by about $27-million for 2006.
Castro criticizes defectors
Cuban president Fidel Castro criticized baseball players who have left the country for multimillion-dollar contracts in the major leagues, saying the island always finds better players to replace them.
During a five-hour appearance on state television Wednesday, Castro remarked on those players "who cannot resist the millions of the major leagues" and acknowledged baseball "is the sport in which we have been beaten the most" when it comes to defections.
Still, the 79-year-old leader insisted Cuban baseball has always survived the losses.
"When one leaves, another 10 better players emerge," he said.
Among those who have left are pitchers Orlando Hernandez and Jose Contreras, who contributed to the recent World Series victory by the Chicago White Sox.
OLYMPICS: London in good shape
Organizers of the 2012 London Olympics were urged to avoid the mistakes and chronic delays by Greece in the years leading to the Athens Games. Denis Oswald, head of the commission overseeing London's preparations, said both organizations want to learn from the 2004 Olympics.
It was the first time the IOC has organized a two-day planning seminar so soon after a Summer Games was awarded. London got the Olympics on July 6, beating Paris, Madrid, New York and Moscow in the IOC vote in Singapore. Oswald said London had made a "very, very good start."
SOCCER: Best in grave condition
George Best's condition has deteriorated and he is unlikely to survive another 24 hours, his doctor said.
"I have to tell you that his hours are numbered now," Dr. Roger Williams said outside Cromwell Hospital in London.
The 59-year-old former Manchester United star, who needed a liver transplant three years ago after decades of alcohol abuse, has been in critical condition in intensive care for a week.
Best, regarded as one of the game's most talented players, retired at 27. He scored 180 goals in 465 appearances for Manchester United and helped lead his team to the 1968 European Cup title.
ET CETERA
GYMNASTICS: Hiroyuki Tomita became the first Japanese gymnast in more than 30 years to win an all-around title at the world championships in Melbourne, Australia. He finished with a final score of 56.698. Compatriot Hisashi Mizutori finished second with 55.349, and Denis Savenkov of Belarus was third with 55.112.
HORSES: Attila's Storm beat Voodoo by a neck in the $112,100 Fall Highweight Handicap at Aqueduct. Ridden by Pablo Morales, Atilla's Storm covered six furlongs in 1:09.30 and paid $8.00, $4.30 and $3.20.
