Sept. 8 (Bloomberg) -- The New York Mets will have to hold onto first place without relief pitcher Billy Wagner, who will miss the rest of the season and all of next year after surgery to repair a torn elbow ligament.

Wagner was re-evaluated by doctors at the New York Hospital for Special Surgery today, a day after he cut short a throwing session because of discomfort. Plans for the so-called ``Tommy John'' ligament-replacement surgery and the 12-month rehabilitation were revealed by Mets General Manager Omar Minaya in a conference call with reporters.

The 37-year-old left-hander was put on the disabled list on Aug. 5 with a strained forearm and two weeks later had pain and swelling in his elbow after throwing in a simulated game. Initial tests revealed a tear, though the team was hoping Wagner could continue to pitch, Minaya said.

New York will continue to use Luis Ayala to finish games this season. The right-hander has recorded five saves in six chances since coming to the Mets from the Washington Nationals on Aug. 17.

The Mets have a two-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East. Last year, the team blew a seven-game lead with 17 games left to lose the division to the Phillies and miss the Major League Baseball playoffs.

Wagner had 27 saves this season, compiling a 0-1 record with a 2.30 earned run average. He signed a four-year, $43 million deal with New York before the 2006 season. The Mets have a team option for 2010.

Pitch Again

The injury doesn't mean Wagner's career is over or that he's thrown his last pitch for the Mets, Minaya said.

``If Billy wants to pitch again, he'll pitch again,'' Minaya said. ``Billy is a hard worker, he's determined.''

Wagner needs 15 saves to reach 400 for his career, a milestone that he told Minaya he was looking forward to achieving when he signed with the team.

``When a guy has those numbers out there, and those great achievements, he'll strive to get them,'' Minaya said.

Wagner's agent, Bean Stringfellow, didn't immediately return a call for comment.

With Wagner needing 12 months to recover, the Mets may turn to Francisco Rodriguez, who's poised to become baseball's single-season saves record-holder and will be a free agent this year.

Rodriguez has 55 saves in 61 opportunities with the Los Angeles Angels this season and needs three more to break Bobby Thigpen's 18-year-old record. The 26-year-old right-hander is making $10 million this season.

Fill Void

Minaya said he would look at players on the roster and those with other organizations to fill the void at closer for next season.

``You have certain allotted dollars you invest to put the team together, and that was an area that I was not expecting to have a lot of dollars,'' he said. ``It forces myself as a GM to demand more from my staff and be creative.''

Atlanta's John Smoltz, the Chicago Cubs' Kerry Wood and Toronto's A.J. Burnett are among the power pitchers who have successfully recovered from ``Tommy John'' surgery, named after a former pitcher who pioneered the procedure in the late 1970s. All were younger than Wagner when they had the operation.

To contact the reporter on this story: Danielle Sessa in New York at dsessa@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: September 8, 2008 17:09 EDT