TAMPA, Fla. -- Former star pitcher Dwight Gooden was arrested on drunken driving charges Wednesday after police officers said they spotted his car swerving on an expressway.

	Gooden posted $500 bond and was released.

Police said the 37-year-old Gooden -- now an assistant to New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner -- was charged with intoxication, having an open container of alcohol in his vehicle and driving with a suspended license.

Gooden was released from Hillsborough County Jail on $500 bond.

"The first thing I do is worry," said David Cone, Gooden's teammate with the New York Mets and Yankees. "I'm worried about a friend. I certainly support Doc. I'm always going to be behind him."

Gooden declined comment as he left the jail, telling reporters he would release a statement in coming days.

Gooden's attorney, Joseph Ficarrotta, did not immediately return calls for comment. Ficarrotta also represents Gooden's friend, troubled former baseball star Darryl Strawberry.

"Of course, we are disappointed in this occurrence and are taking it very seriously, and Dwight is as well," Steinbrenner said in a statement. "We don't have all the facts at this time. We're monitoring the situation very closely."

Gooden, who was involved in a scuffle with Tampa police after a traffic stop in 1986, was cooperative when arrested this time, police spokesman Joe Durkin said.

Officers noticed Gooden's black 2002 Cadillac Escalade weaving about 11:35 p.m. Tuesday, according to the police report. He refused to take breath or urine tests, police said.

Gooden, alone in the car, was stopped after an officer transporting a prisoner on the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway spotted him swerving, Durkin said. Gooden wasn't speeding.

When officers stopped him, they spotted an open bottle of Michelob Light in the car. Gooden told the officers he was on his way to pick up his son. He was arrested early Wednesday.

Gooden also was driving with a suspended license because he had not paid a traffic fine. Gooden didn't know he wasn't supposed to be driving, Durkin said.

Gooden retired last spring, ending his major league career with a 194-112 record and a 3.51 ERA, striking out 2,293 in 2,800 2/3 innings.

He played 11 seasons with the Mets, becoming the youngest Cy Young Award winner in 1985 at age 20 and pitching for a World Series championship team a year later.

In June 1994, Gooden was suspended for 60 days for testing positive for cocaine. He tested positive for cocaine again while on suspension and was sidelined for the 1995 season.

"Anytime a friend has any kind of trouble, you're worried," Yankees reliever Mike Stanton said. "The No. 1 concern is him and his family's well being. He's been doing good. We're just going to do whatever we can to support him."

Gooden joined the Yankees in 1996, and in two seasons went 20-12 with a 4.58 ERA. He pitched a no-hitter against Seattle on May 14, 1996.

Gooden, a Tampa native, began serving as an assistant to Steinbrenner last year. Based at the team's minor league complex in Tampa, Gooden has worked with minor league pitchers, spoke to young players about off-field issues and offered advice on trades and free agents.

In a 1995 interview, Gooden offered this assessment of Tampa: "My problems have never been here in St. Pete. I was always getting into trouble in Tampa. ... If I go to Tampa during the day, I'm fine. But in Tampa after the sun goes down, it's like I'm a vampire."

On Tuesday, Steinbrenner said Strawberry will be offered a job as a player development coach after completing court-mandated drug treatment. Strawberry was sentenced May 18 to two years' house arrest at a rural Florida drug treatment center.