The Mets are expected to remove Julio Franco from their roster today to make room for Lastings Milledge, Newsday has learned. An announcement will be made before today's game.

It's not clear whether Franco, who turns 48 next month, will retire, or whether he'll accept an unconditional release and try to find a job elsewhere.

In his second season with the Mets, Franco has 10 hits, including one homer, in 50 at-bats, for a .200 batting average. He has recorded a .328 on-base percentage and an anemic .260 slugging percentage. He has essentially served as a player-coach, providing guidance for the Mets' younger players.

But with the Mets' offense struggling -- hitting coach Rick Down was fired last night, and Rickey Henderson will join the coaching staff today -- the club apparently decided that it could no longer use a roster spot on Franco.

The Mets signed Franco to a two-year, $2-million contract prior to the 2006 season.

will they sell milledges album at the gates

http://www.cantstopthebleeding.com/img/lastings0807.jpg

Whoo Hoo. Thank you Willie.

I wonder if the Braves will re-sign him. It's hard to get worse production from the 1B position than they've gotten.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x120/RobertoRoberts/Sports/sports116.jpg

http://thefeed.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/9b5c8b2e10234a51aad49533c4a7f588.jpg = http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/sports/brew/img/jun02/zito611.jpg = http://justin.turnthecrank.com/PublicPhotographs/AllStarGameChicago2003/trophy%20world%20series%2003.JPG

too bad milledge for zito could of brought a world series to the mets in 06

Sweet..

Maybe the SF Giants will pick him up. We need some youth on the team.

Sweet..

Maybe the SF Giants will pick him up. We need some youth on the team.

That's funny.

That's funny.

not if you are a Giants Fan :mad:

THANK YOU JESUS!

NEW YORK (AP) -- Julio Franco may have finally run out of at-bats.

The New York Mets cut the 48-year-old utilityman Thursday, opting to give 22-year-old outfielder Lastings Milledge another chance in the majors.

The NL East leaders announced the move before starting the second half with a game against Cincinnati.

Franco hit only .200 in 50 at-bats with one home run and eight RBIs. Mostly a pinch-hitter, he also played a bit at first base and third base this season.

Popular in the clubhouse, Franco often acted as a coach, motivating both veterans and younger players. There has been speculation he might eventually have that role full-time; this week, the Mets hired Rickey Henderson as a coach.

The Mets designated Franco for assignment, meaning they have 10 days to trade him, release him or send him to the minors.

Franco was a three-time All-Star and won the 1991 AL batting title with Texas. He has 2,576 career hits, along with 173 homers and 1,186 RBIs.

Last year, Franco contributed several key hits for the Mets while batting .273 with two homers and 26 RBIs in 165 at-bats. His bat seemed to slow considerably this year, but on May 4 he homered off Arizona's Randy Johnson - Franco is the oldest player in major league history to homer .

Franco already had played three seasons in the majors when Milledge was born in 1985.

Milledge was the Mets' top prospect when he made his major league debut in May 2006. In his first month, he showed off the considerable talent that made him such a highly coveted player, but also made his share of missteps on and off the field.

He was reprimanded for not running hard on the bases and also arrived late to the clubhouse for a game. Near the end of the season, a sign was posted in his locker at Washington - "Know your place, rook. Your teammates," it said.

Milledge is 0-for-3 with the Mets this season. He rankled team management for making a rap CD that used foul and offensive language.

Milledge was at Triple-A New Orleans this year when he injured his right foot. He recently has been playing at Double-A Binghamton.