The Mets appear to have surged into the lead in the Carlos Delgado sweepstakes. And with the dismantling Marlins looking to quickly move hefty salaries, the Daily News has learned it's conceivable the slugger who spurned the Mets last winter could join the team by Thanksgiving, an executive pursuing Delgado said. The $48 million owed to Delgado over the next three years, plus a salary adjustment of at least $1.5 million to account for state taxes in New York that don't exist in Florida, would seem to preclude the Mets from landing Manny Ramirez. Delgado, 33, would give the Mets the bona fide power hitter the team has lacked. After spurning the Mets' four-year, $53 million overture last winter for a slightly inferior offer from the Marlins, Delgado hit .301 with 33 homers and 115 RBI in 144 games this year. No Met has reached that RBI total since Mike Piazza (124) and Robin Ventura (120) in 1999.