NEW YORK -- New York Mets reliever John Franco will miss at least the rest of the season with an injury to his left elbow that could end his 18-year career.

	Franco

Franco, who has not pitched since undergoing surgery on the elbow in December, had an MRI exam Wednesday that revealed the injury to the medial collateral ligament and flexor tendon in his pitching elbow.

"Obviously this is bad news," Mets general manager Steve Phillips said. "This is not something that can heal on its own. John has to consider whether he wants surgery. He is clearly lost for the 2002 season and into next year."

Franco, 41, was brought to tears when he was given the news before the Mets' game Wednesday night against the San Francisco Giants.

Phillips advised Franco to take some time before deciding whether to undergo the operation or end his career.

Franco will hold a "question-and-answer session" with the media on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. ET regarding his future, the Mets announced.

The Mets received the news right before gametime, and Franco left Shea Stadium in the middle of the game.

"John is very disappointed," Phillips said. "Things were not right the last couple of days. He was emotional about it. He wants to pitch. That's all he wants to do."

If Franco decides to have surgery, doctors would first reattach the tendon to his elbow then perform "Tommy John" ligament replacement surgery. Recovery time for that kind of injury usually is at least 12 months.

"Plenty of guys have done it, but I'm not sure how many guys have done it at 41 years old," Phillips said. "The older you get, the slower you tend to recover. But I've said it all along: Don't bet against John Franco."

Franco had scar tissue removed from his elbow in December and was unable to throw without pain all spring. Phillips said that neither the surgery or Franco's urgency to return to the mound caused the new injury.

Franco is the longest-tenured Met, joining the team before the 1990 season and the emotional leader of the team. He has the second most saves in baseball history with 422 -- 56 behind Lee Smith's record.

"It is not only a loss on the mound, but also in what he brings to the clubhouse and the bullpen," Phillips said.

Born in Brooklyn, Franco's New York roots run deep. He went to school at St. John's and lives on Staten Island. Under his Mets jersey, Franco wears an orange T-shirt from the city's sanitation department, where his late father worked.

With the Mets, Franco has 274 saves and has pitched in 605 games -- both team records. He was named captain of the team last May.

"John Franco is a Met," Phillips said. "As far as I'm concerned, as long as I'm here there will be offer for him to be here in some capacity. No question about it. Ownership agrees with that."

With Franco lost for the year, the Mets need to decide whether to add another lefty to their bullpen. Mark Guthrie is the only left-hander currently as the team expected Franco to return.

Franco is in the second year of a $10.5 million, three-year contract. The deal is insured and Phillips said the Mets will be responsible for about 20-to-25 percent of the salary.

Franco began his career in the Los Angeles Dodgers' organization but was traded to Cincinnati in 1983. He made his major league debut the next year for the Reds and has appeared in 998 career games. He led the NL in saves three times and was selected to three All-Star teams.