In exactly 37 days, the Mets will hold their first spring-training workout for position players.

Question is, will Carlos Delgado be among them?

The slugging first baseman is the third marquee free agent the Mets have chased this offseason. And considering they landed their first two recruits in Pedro Martinez and Carlos Beltran, there’s reason to be optimistic in Flushing.

But the Mets have plenty of company for Delgado’s services, and those clubs are beginning to turn up their pursuit. After meeting socially with the Mets this past Thursday and sitting down to discuss business with the Marlins two days ago, Delgado is now tentatively scheduled to meet with the Rangers on Friday.

As of yesterday afternoon, the Mets had not yet scheduled a follow-up meeting – one that would be more business in nature – with Delgado. But the two sides have been having ongoing talks and could certainly set something up for sometime this week.

On Saturday night, Delgado’s agent, David Sloane, said that Omar Minaya had told him that he would be speaking with him daily. Obviously, since Delgado is meeting with Texas on Friday, there is no shot he’ll sign anywhere before the end of the week.

Baltimore is also interested in Delgado, but the Mets and Marlins are believed to be the frontrunners. The Mets’ advantage over Florida is their ability to offer more dollars, and that strength would be further enhanced if the Mets free up some cash by trading Mike Cameron. Two possible destinations are Oakland (Cameron and cash for outfielder Eric Byrnes) and Arizona (for an unspecified package). The Mets have also talked with the Orioles about Cameron, according to yesterday’s Baltimore Sun.

Delgado seems to have been impressed by his Marlins visit. Yesterday’s Miami Herald quoted him from an interview with a local TV affiliate as saying, “I tell you what makes it attractive – they have a damn good team, and it gives me a chance to be in contention.”