The Associated Press

NEW YORK - David Cone stood just inside the Mets' clubhouse, personally delivering the news as his teammates trickled in.

It was time to say goodbye.

Dressed in a business suit and still looking boyishly young despite a hint of gray around the temples, Cone retired Friday. He cut short his comeback with New York, calling it a career at age 40 because of an arthritic left hip, rather than a tired right arm.

"This is the end, for sure," the pitcher said at Shea Stadium.

No tears, no long speeches filled with regret. In fact, Cone even called out across the clubhouse to kid the guy taking his place on the roster - 42-year-old reliever John Franco, activated from the disabled list after being sidelined since 2001 by elbow surgery.

"One of the old expressions in baseball is, 'It's time to get out of the game and give the young guys a chance,' " Cone said.

Joked Franco: "Man, I'm sorry I forced you out."

Cone, who sat out the 2002 season, was 1-3 with a 6.50 ERA in five games this year, four of them starts.

Cone finished 194-126 in a big-league career that began in 1986 with Kansas City and spanned nearly 3,000 innings. He won the 1994 AL Cy Young Award with the Royals and pitched a perfect game with the New York Yankees on July 18, 1999.

BLUE JAYS: Toronto is going to use a four-man rotation in June and maybe even longer if it works.

"I don't think it's any secret that our fifth starters have struggled," general manager J.P. Ricciardi said. "It's not like were bumping (John) Smoltz."

Left-hander Doug Davis, who started Friday, is expected to be moved to the bullpen. Davis entered the game 2-3 with a 5.54 ERA.

SHORT HOPS: Boston pitching coach Tony Cloninger, 62, undergoing chemotherapy to treat bladder cancer, didn't make the trip to Toronto because of the SARS scare.

• St. Louis closer Jason Isringhausen threw to hitters for the second time this week, taking another step toward what may be a brief rehab stint. He's scheduled to throw one more time, either Sunday or next Tuesday, depending on how he feels, and after that will go on a rehab assignment.

• Indians pitcher Jason Bere probably is out for the season and might need more surgery after an MRI revealed further damage in his shoulder.

• Outfielder Jermaine Dye was activated from the 15-day disabled list Friday by Oakland, which optioned catcher Mark Johnson to Triple-A Sacramento. Dye had been on the disabled list since April 25 because of torn knee cartilage.