Mets welcome back Feliciano

The Mets have brought in a familiar face in an attempt to strengthen their bullpen.

The Amazin's announced yesterday that they had signed veteran reliever Pedro Feliciano to a minor league deal, two years after he left the team for the crosstown Yankees.

The 36-year-old lefthanded specialist spent the past two years under contract with the Bronx Bombers, but never pitched for them due to a torn capsule in his shoulder that required surgery on Sept. 8, 2011.

Feliciano made his major league debut with the Mets in 2002 and led the league in appearances from 2008 to 2010, taking the ball an average of 89 times in those three years.

"He was abused," Yankees general Manager Brian Cashman told reporters in 2011 following his injury. "It's a thin market when you're looking for lefties, and he's one of the better ones out there."

Feliciano pitched to a 1.23 ERA in seven Puerto Rican winter league appearances this off-season. He will report to major league spring training in Port St. Lucie on Feb. 13.