Flushing, NY (My Sportsbook) - New York Mets pitcher David Cone, who won the 1994 American League Cy Young Award, has announced his retirement from professional baseball.

The 40-year-old Cone was signed by the Mets just before this season after being out of baseball in 2002. He struggled this year, going 1-3 with a 6.50 ERA in five games, including four starts.

An arthritic hip led to Cone's decision to call it quits. He was on the disabled list earlier this season with a hip problem, but in his first appearance off the DL, Wednesday at Philadelphia, the righthander surrendered a solo homer and a pair of walks in two innings.

"I've had problems with my hip over the last several years, but it was something that I could always manage," said Cone. "When I decided to make this comeback with the Mets I knew that it would be something I would have to contend with, but I was always able to manage in the past. It's become unmanageable."

Cone, who had a career record of 194-126 and a 3.46 ERA, captured his Cy Young honor while pitching for the Kansas City Royals. He has also played for Toronto, the New York Yankees and Boston. This was actually Cone's second go- around with the Mets, as he played in Flushing from 1987-92. He went 9-7 with a 4.31 ERA in 25 starts for the Red Sox in 2001.