New York ? With Randy Johnson still a few days away from his official unveiling in the Bronx, George Steinbrenner is reloading his cash rifle, ready to overwhelm Carlos Beltran with enough money to blunt the Astros’ compelling sales pitch, and to keep long-shot suitors such as the Tigers and the Mets in the background.

Steinbrenner intends to outspend everyone, which is no surprise. But no one, not even agent Scott Boras, is sure whether Beltran is the same kind of mercenary as Pedro Martinez, ready to deliver himself into the arms of the highest bidder.

If not, the Astros have a chance to keep Beltran, especially if Roger Clemens chooses to return in 2005 and makes a personal appeal to the free agent outfielder. A friend of Beltran’s said recently that if money were the only consideration, “the Yankees would’ve had Carlos by now.” Instead, Beltran is looking for a friendly, upbeat clubhouse, which the Astros can now boast in the post-Jimy Williams era, and a community that isn’t enslaved by a gossip-page mentality.

That may or may not conform with Boras’ idea of heaven, especially since he’s asking for a 10-year, $200 million deal. The Astros already have been turned down after offering $81 million over six years, but the fact that Beltran hasn’t yet embraced the Yankees — he turned down a chance to tour New York City, according to Newsday — is giving hope to outsiders, particularly the Mets. Could they possibly steal Beltran from under the Yankees’ noses? It’s a one-in-a-million chance, but some industry insiders say the Mets could have Beltran’s ear by playing to their increasingly apparent strength – the Spanish-speaking clubhouse. Of course, the Wilpon family will have to make an extraordinary financial commitment to even enter the Beltran sweepstakes, but no team in baseball is as determined to make over the clubhouse demographic as the Mets.

Whether it’s coincidence or by design, general manager Omar Minaya, a native of the Dominican Republic, has ushered out Al Leiter, John Franco, Todd Zeile and Mike Stanton this winter and has pursued Latino players in their place. That’s helped in the recruitment of Carlos Delgado, who is in daily communication with Mets executives, and may be a factor with Beltran, too.

Still, the most compelling reason for the Mets to launch a Hail Mary in Beltran’s direction is his decision to pick a team before Jan. 8 — the last day he can sign with the Astros after having rejected their offer of arbitration. The Mets and Yankees had assumed Boras would string out the courtship process until late January, but with a smaller window, “We won’t get stuck without (a center fielder) if (Beltran) says no to us,” said a Mets insider.

The Mets are rightfully assuming Beltran will ultimately choose the Bronx or else head back to Minute Maid Park. Even the Tigers may end up outspending the Wilpons. But signing Pedro has created enormous front-office momentum at Shea. If nothing else, there’s growing confidence that Delgado will choose the Mets over the Orioles, if and when the Mets decide to pay him in excess of the $12.5 million a year Richie Sexson is getting from the Mariners.

Although the Mets are nowhere near such a decision, one baseball executive said, “If the Mets come up with the money, they’re going to get Delgado.

Just watch.”

News item: Deal for Randy Johnson is almost done.

The key word here is almost. There are a few obstacles keeping the deal from being completed among the four teams – which now, apparently, includes the White Sox. There was talk that Javier Vazquez was threatening to demand a trade from the Dodgers after the 2005 season, which would be his contractual right after being dealt in the middle of a multiyear deal. No one was certain whether Shawn Green would approve his deal to the Diamondbacks, and the Yankees were mulling whether Johnson would demand a one- or two-year extension as incentive to agree to the trade as well.

While no one doubts the trade will take place, commissioner Bud Selig had not been presented with it for approval as of late Saturday. One baseball official familiar with the talks said, “None of the teams have gotten firm yes or no answers from their players. So it’s not there quite yet.”

News item: A’s deal Mulder to Cardinals This is no great surprise, not after GM Billy Beane dealt Tim Hudson to the Braves last week. In further reducing payroll – and getting something in return before Mulder bolted via free agency in 2006 – the A’s received pitchers Danny Haren, Kiki Calero and catcher Daric Barton, the Cards’ first-round pick in the 2003 draft.

Beane is relying on a hunch about Barton’s future greatness. Only 19, the left-handed hitting catcher batted .313 with 13 homers and a .511 slugging percentage in Class A last year. Beane similarly is banking on the future of lefty Dan Meyer, whom he acquired from the Braves. In 67 minor league starts, Meyer posted a 2.71 ERA and 381 strikeouts against only 87 walks.

Last year at Class AA Greenville, Meyer was 6-3 with a 2.22 ERA, averaging seven strikeouts for every walk.

With two of his big three starters gone, it’s not impossible to imagine Beane trading Barry Zito, too, although this much is certain: The A’s payroll will shrink closer to $40 million as Beane stays within the confines of owner Steve Schott’s stringent parameters.

With so much young talent, the A’s have ensured they’ll be competitive — and inexpensively operated — for the next four to five years. But as one rival GM said the other day, “One of these days, Billy is going to get sick of saving (Schott) all that money.”