John Franco's career over finally?

[faba]

take 44-year-old Franco off 40-man rosterAssociated Press

CINCINNATI -- John Franco was designated for assignment by the Houston Astros on Saturday, removing him from the 40-man roster and giving the team 10 days to decide what to do with the NL's career leader in saves.

John Franco

Relief Pitcher

Houston Astros

Profile

2005 SEASON STATISTICS

GM W L BB K ERA

31 0 1 9 16 7.20

The Astros can either trade Franco, release him or send the 44-year-old left-hander to the minors.

"I'm disappointed, but my numbers aren't that good," Franco said. "It's part of the game. They have a number of young guys that they want to take a look at."

The former Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets closer was 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA in 31 games with Houston. He is second behind Lee Smith on the career saves list with 424, the most for a left-hander.

"We felt like there are some other guys who are doing a pretty good job," manager Phil Garner said. "You never like to do this to a good man. We feel like we failed in some way."

The move on Franco was done to make room for right-hander Ezequiel Astacio, who was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock to start the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds.

Astacio, 25, was 0-3 with a 10.98 ERA in six games with Houston, including four starts, in May. He went 4-0 with a 0.99 ERA in five June games at Round Rock and is 4-3 with a 2.70 overall with the Express this season.

Franco set Cincinnati's career saves record with 148 in six seasons before being traded to the New York Mets after the 1989 season. His Reds record lasted until Danny Graves broke it last season.

The Brooklyn native set the Mets' club record with 278 saves in 14 seasons before the Mets let him go after last season. He signed with Houston as a free agent.

John has been hanging on now for the last couple of years- retire and hang out in the Staten Island Yankee ballpark

[TomShane]

Minutes until Steinbrenner calls Franco, who will announce upon signing that he was "always a Yankee fan growing up": 3 days.