Rincon lands Minor League contract with Mets

NEW YORK -- The Mets extended an invitation to their big league Spring Training camp to veteran relief pitcher Ricardo Rincon on Wednesday after the left-handed specialist had signed a Minor League contract with them.

Rincon, 37 -- and well-removed from his last regular duty in the big leagues -- spent the early part of last season with the Giants' Triple-A Fresno affiliate, appearing in seven games before he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He had pitched briefly with the Cardinals in 2006 before he required surgery to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff in his left shoulder.

His most recent full season was 2005, when he appeared in 67 games with the A's. He produced a 1-1 record and 4.34 ERA in 67 games and 37 1/3 innings.

Rincon resumed pitching last month with Culiacan of the Mexican Pacific League. He didn't allow a hit in six appearances.

He has a 21-24 record, 3.58 ERA and 21 saves in 557 big league appearances with the Pirates, Indians, A's and Cardinals.

His new contract calls for him to be paid at the annual rates of $750,000 for time in the big leagues and $125,000 for time in the Minor Leagues.