Mets Select Contract of Ricky Ledee, Option Newhan to Z's

NEW YORK, NY - The New York Mets selected the contract of outfielder Ricky Ledee from the Zephyrs today and optioned infielder/outfielder David Newhan to New Orleans. Ledee will wear #9 and will be available for tonight's game at Detroit.

The move comes after Mets outfielder Endy Chavez was placed on the disabled list with a left hamstring strain.

Ledee, 33, was signed to a minor league contract by the Mets on March 29th earlier this year. He originally signed a minor league deal with Oakland on January 31st, but was released during spring training on March 25th.

Ledee batted .287 (50-174) with 26 runs scored, six doubles, one triple, eight home runs, 39 RBI, with 18 walks and 37 strikeouts in 55 games with New Orleans this year.

The 6-1, 227-pound lefthander batted .094 (3-32) with a double, one home run and one RBI in 27 games with New York in 2006. He was claimed off waivers from the Dodgers on August 8, 2006. Ricky hit .245 (13-53) with four runs scored, five doubles, one home run and eight RBI in 40 games with Los Angeles last year.

Ledee has compiled a .244 (486-1,991) batting average in nine major league seasons with the Yankees, Indians, Rangers, Phillies, Giants, Dodgers and Mets. In 835 major league games, he's collected 117 doubles, 17 triples, 62 home runs and 312 RBI.

Newhan was hitting .200 (10-50) with one double, one home run and four RBI in 41 games for New York this year.