Injured Vaughn Can’t Play

Mo Vaughn will not play baseball in 2004 and is doubtful for 2005 because of an arthritic left knee.

The New York Met first baseman, who has joint and cartilage damage in the knee, went on the disabled list May 3 and didn’t play again last season.

Vaughn hoped to go to spring training, but after working out all winter he had been advised not to try a comeback, the 36-year-old said in a conference call Thursday.

“From what the doctors say, it would be tough this season and it’s not very bright for years to come,” Vaughn said. “It doesn’t look good at all. It’s a bad situation.”

Vaughn said he works out two hours a day, four days a week. “I don’t want to put so much stress that I need a knee replacement at 40 and another one at 60,” he said.

“I worked hard this off-season trying to put strength in the knee. An athlete knows his body. You know pain. You feel it in your bones. You’ve got to get up, get on with life and keep moving.”

Vaughn is owed $15 million for 2004, the final year of an $80-million contract he signed in 1999. The Mets have a $14-million option with a $2-million buyout in 2005. Insurance on the deal will reimburse the club for 75% of the contract once he sits out 90 days.

“We can’t talk about the insurance,” General Manager Jim Duquette said. “Mo is on the disabled list as of opening day.”

Agent Jeff Moorad would not call the announcement a retirement, even though prospects for Vaughn playing again seem slim at best.

Vaughn, the 1995 American League most valuable player with the Boston Red Sox, has 326 career homers, 1,064 runs batted in and a .293 batting average in 12 seasons.

Vaughn, who also played for the Angels, sat out the 2001 season because of a ruptured tendon in his left arm and batted .190 with three homers and 15 RBIs in 27 games for the Mets last season.