Admin Posted February 13, 2003 Share Posted February 13, 2003 Credit: ESPN.com Link NEW YORK -- David Cone will attempt a comeback with the New York Mets after signing a minor league contract Thursday. The 40-year-old right-hander, who won the 1994 Cy Young Award and threw a perfect game in 1999 for the Yankees, was out of baseball last season. He will compete for the fifth spot in the Mets' rotation. Cone pitched for the Mets from 1987-92, going 80-48. His career mark is 193-123 with a 3.44 ERA with the Mets, Yankees, Royals, Blue Jays and Red Sox. A five-time All-Star, Cone ranks 17th in major league history with 2,655 strikeouts. Cone last pitched in 2001, going 9-7 with a 4.31 ERA in 25 starts for Boston. He was an analyst for the Yankees' YES network last season and had been expected to do so again. His perfect game came with the Yankees, and he won four World Series titles with them. Cone also won a championship with the Blue Jays in 1992. A baseball official told The New York Times Cone was a part of four Yankees World Series championship teams. To soften the blow for them, according to The New York Times, Cone phoned principal owner George Steinbrenner, general manager Brian Cashman and manager Joe Torre on Wednesday to alert them to his decision to rejoin the Mets. Cone's deal reportedly will pay him a base salary of less than $1 million if he makes the Mets with the chance to earn more in incentives based on starts and innings pitched, a baseball official told The Times. Less than three weeks ago, Cone visited the Yankees' complex in Tampa, Fla., and said that he was close to formalizing his retirement. But at John Franco's charity bowling tournament two weeks ago, The Times said, Mets owner Fred Wilpon, his son Jeff, and Al Leiter spoke to Cone about pitching for the Mets. Cone, who was days away from saying he was retired, was intrigued. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Columnist JC~ Posted February 13, 2003 Share Posted February 13, 2003 Another old pitcher for the Mets...Just what they need! He won a Cy Young, but here's Cone today! :toilet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Das Texan Posted February 13, 2003 Share Posted February 13, 2003 No risk. High reward. What more could you want if you are the Mets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Columnist JC~ Posted February 13, 2003 Share Posted February 13, 2003 Das, he's not Roger Clemens or Nolan Ryan. The man is 40 and is trying to come and pitch for another 15+ win season. He was great at one time, he's just faded since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Das Texan Posted February 13, 2003 Share Posted February 13, 2003 What exactly is your point? A minor league contract. He pitches well, he makes the team and the Mets will be glad to have him. He pitches poorly, the Mets release him and Cone remains in retirement. Again. No risk. High reward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DurableTear Posted February 13, 2003 Share Posted February 13, 2003 What exactly is your point? A minor league contract. He pitches well, he makes the team and the Mets will be glad to have him. He pitches poorly, the Mets release him and Cone remains in retirement. Again. No risk. High reward. exactly Das. No risk included with a Minor contract... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJBurnett34 Posted February 13, 2003 Share Posted February 13, 2003 Holly smokes...he is back? I cant belive it.I thought he was retired for good.The mets did a very good job.He is a veteran with good stuff, well before he retired.The mets will be hard to compete against when the season starts..How do you think he will do? 4.10 ERA 135 K's 60 BB 13-12 or something like that... Josh: It doesnt matter if he is old.Look at clemens he is 40 and pitching excellent...anyways if he doesnt pitch good he can give advice to the young pitchers in the mets.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Columnist JC~ Posted February 13, 2003 Share Posted February 13, 2003 Josh: It doesnt matter if he is old.Look at clemens he is 40 and pitching excellent...anyways if he doesnt pitch good he can give advice to the young pitchers in the mets.. I wrote he IS NOT ROGER CLEMENS, he can't play at this age. And there aren't many young pitchers on the mets roster...not many at all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mephisto Posted February 13, 2003 Share Posted February 13, 2003 Wow! I thought he was gone for goo! Great work by the mets to bring him back like Das said No risk, high reward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJBurnett34 Posted February 14, 2003 Share Posted February 14, 2003 And there aren't many young pitchers on the mets roster...not many at all! Your right but he can always teach young people at AAA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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