Flushing, NY (My Sportsbook) - The New York Mets have placed pitcher David Cone and outfielder Jeromy Burnitz on the 15-day disabled list.

Cone, who was signed to a minor league contract in the offseason, started four games for New York and was 1-3 with a 6.75 ERA before injuring his left hip. The 40-year-old Cone, who had not played in the majors since a stint with Boston in 2001, went 80-48 with the Mets from 1987-1992.

In 1988, Cone became the fourth Mets hurler to post 20 victories when he went 20-3 with a 2.22 ERA. His .870 winning percentage that season was the sixth best in baseball history for pitchers with 20 or more victories.

Cone, who captured the 1994 American League Cy Young Award as a member of the Royals, is 8-3 with a 3.80 ERA all-time in 21 post-season games. He has been a member of five world championship teams (1992 Blue Jays and the 1996, 1998-2000 Yankees) and holds a 2-0 record in six World Series games.

In 1999, Cone became the 15th pitcher in the majors to hurl a perfect game in the regular season while a member of the Yankees.

Cone, a five-time All-Star, has posted a 194-126 record with a 3.46 ERA in 449 career appearances with Kansas City, Toronto, the Red Sox, Mets and Yankees.

Burnitz is expected to miss four-to-six weeks due to a broken bone in his left hand. He led off the ninth against Houston closer Billy Wagner on Tuesday night and was hit in the hand. He stayed in the game, a 6-2 loss to the Astros, but underwent X-rays after the game. The results showed a nondisplaced fracture of a bone located just below his pinky finger.

Burnitz, who struggled mightily last season, was off to an encouraging start, batting .279 with three home runs and seven RBI this season. In 2002 he struggled to finish with a .215 batting average during his first year back in a Mets uniform.

The 34-year-old suffered a similar injury when he was hit by a pitch on his right hand against the Kansas City Royals in 1999. He was forced to sit out five weeks with the injury.

Also on Wednesday, the Mets recalled utilityman Joe McEwing and pitcher Pat Strange from Norfolk of the International League and optioned catcher Jason Phillips to Norfolk. Additionally, pitcher Heath Bell was designated for assignment and the club purchased the contract of outfielder Raul Gonzalez from Norfolk.

McEwing, a career .255 hitter with 22 homers, is 1-for-6 in seven games this season for the big league club. Last season, he became only the fifth outfielder since 1990 to record an unassisted double play.