AP
Left-handed reliever Ricardo Rincon today agreed to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.
Rincon spent last season in the minors with the San Francisco Giants, appearing in seven games for Triple-A Fresno before a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee ended his season in May. He returned to the mound last month with Culiacan of the Mexican Pacific League and didnât allow a hit in six games.
Rinconâs prior stint in the majors was with St. Louis in 2006. He pitched in five games before having season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff in his left shoulder.
His last full season was 2005 with Oakland, when he went 1-1 with a 4.34 ERA in 67 games.
Overall, Rincon is 21-24 with a 3.58 ERA and 21 saves in 557 big league games with Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Oakland and St. Louis.
He would get a $750,000 salary if added to the Mets’ major league roster, and $125,000 in the minors.
Rincon also could earn $400,000 in performance bonuses: $50,000 each for 40 and 45 relief appearances, and $75,000 each for 50, 55, 60 and 65 relief appearances.
