A few minutes after recording the 500th save of his career Mariano Rivera was laughing in an interview room at Citi Field, talking about how he actually preferred getting his first career RBI in the 9th inning to the milestone save...

Both the Mets and Yankees, who are a little desperate these days as they watch the baseball postseason go on without them, should stay away from Manny Ramirez. Let the Dodgers pay him. And have him.

Troubled Mets relief pitcher Ambiorix Burgos allegedly struck and killed two women in a hit-and-run crash in his homeland of the Dominican Republic, cops told a local paper...

The Mets have several major decisions to make after falling short of the playoffs on the season's final day for the second straight year, but Jerry Manuel will return as manager in 2009 and beyond, the Daily News has learned...

Jose Reyes married Katherine Ramirez, the mother of his two children, at City Hall in Manhattan a month ago. Now the shortstop has his sights on another goal: U.S. citizenship...

Fernando Martinez, the Mets' highly regarded but oft-injured outfield prospect, returned from summer knee surgery two weeks ago in the Dominican Winter League - only to have another problem.

There are 205 categories of tickets listed on the Mets' Web site for Citi Field - an increase from 190 available last year. Remember the days when you went to the ballpark and asked the guy in the booth for two general admission tickets?

The Mets announced the signing of catcher Chris Coste, who is expected to open next season at Triple-A Buffalo. Coste, 36, hit .224 with two homers and 18 RBI with Philadelphia and Houston last season.

The Mets appeared to be closing in on a deal with free-agent catcher Henry Blanco. A Venezuelan newspaper reported Blanco had left that country Sunday for a physical with the Mets. Blanco played with San Diego last season.

Reliever Billy Wagner and the Atlanta Braves agreed Wednesday to a $7 million, one-year contract. The six-time All-Star gets $6.75 million in 2010 and the deal includes a $6.5 million club option for 2011 with a $250,000 buyout.