NEW YORK -- David Cone's future with the New York Yankees is in the bullpen.

Yankees manager Joe Torre announced that Cone, who's next scheduled start was to be Monday against the Detroit Tigers, will be replaced by Dwight Gooden in the starting rotation.

	Cone

Cone (4-13), who threw in the bullpen before Friday night's game, struggled in two starts since dislocating his left shoulder while fielding a popped-up bunt on Aug. 30 at Kansas City.

"You know Coney, it's more guts than anything as far as him enduring the pain," Torre said before Saturday's 13-8 victory over the Tigers. "Maybe in the bullpen, it'll benefit him. I'm just not too sure that David's too comfortable right now."

Gooden (6-4) has made 11 relief appearances for the Yankees this season and replaced Cone in the rotation a few times during the summer.

"It's sort of a reversal of roles for Coney and Doc," Torre said. "We've pretty much kept the two of them on the same schedule. Doc also will start next Saturday, but we're taking it a start at a time. Doc's done a great job coming out of the bullpen, so we'll see."

Gooden said he was pleased to get the opportunity, but not at his friend's expense.

"It's definitely tough," Gooden said. "We're friends, but we'll be friends long after the games are over. He said to me, 'Let's switch it. How about you go five innings that day and I'll finish it up and go four?' "

Gooden, 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA for the Yankees this season, will make just his fifth start for New York.

"Starting is something I've been doing all my life," Gooden said. "It's just a situation where I'll go out and do the things I've been doing my whole career."

While Cone was disappointed, he accepted Torre's decision.

"All loyalties aside, Joe always does what's best for the team," Cone said. "I don't know what exactly led to Joe's decision, but I respect it."

Torre said Cone did not try to persuade him to keep him in the rotation.

"He was fine with it -- professional," Torre said. "David Cone makes very tough decisions as easy as he can on me. He understands my situation, and he thinks of more than just himself."

Cone's move to the bullpen sets up the possibility of him pitching in the playoffs as a right-handed reliever.

"I still have a chance to make the postseason roster, so I have to try to show that I can still get hitters out and help this team," Cone said. "I knew all along that the chances were small that I'd get a playoff start. I just have to try to help the team any way I can."

New York, which was 9-19 in Cone's starts, will likely use Roger Clemens (13-7), Andy Pettitte (18-8), Orlando Hernandez (12-12) and Denny Neagle (7-6) as its playoff starters.

Torre said he and Cone have discussed his chances of pitching in the playoffs.

"We've been talking sort of candidly and casually about the roster," Torre said. "He understands that if he is on the postseason roster, it will be in the bullpen."

Cone said adjusting to coming in as a reliever should not be a problem.

"It's no big deal," Cone said. "It's still pitching -- you get ready, come in and pitch."

While Cone wouldn't go into specifics about the injury, he admitted his shoulder is still bothering him.

"It's something that will grab at me sometimes and I'll feel it, but it's something I can pitch through right now," Cone said.

Against Toronto on Wednesday, Cone allowed seven runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings. In his first start after injuring his shoulder, he gave up six runs, eight hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings against Cleveland -- a potential postseason opponent.

"There's no question about it -- I've had a hellacious year," Cone said. "But the season's not over yet. When it is, I'll do some soul searching and make a decision about the future. But right now, I'm just going to try to help this team as best I can."