The New York Times-20080124-Mets Sign Rincon- -Brief-

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Mets Sign Rincon; [Brief]

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The Mets added some left-handed depth to their bullpen Wednesday by signing the oft-traveled and oft-injured reliever Ricardo Rincon to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.Rincon, 37, has pitched in five major league games since the end of the 2005 season because of injury and none since April 2006. He had season-ending surgery in 2006 to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff in his left shoulder. Last season, while pitching for the Giants' Class AAA team, he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. As part of his rehabilitation, Rincon pitched in December for Culiacan of the Mexican Pacific League. In 557 career games, Rincon is 21-24 with a 3.58 earned run average.