Mets sign reliever Tankersley

The Mets on Wednesday signed lefthanded reliever Taylor Tankersley to a minor-league contract and invited him to spring training.

Tankersley, 27, went 0-0 with a 7.50 ERA in 27 games with the Florida Marlins last season. He held lefthanded batters to a .200 average. He missed the 2009 season after elbow surgery.

Tankersley will compete for a bullpen spot left open by the free agent defections of Pedro Feliciano and Hisanori Takahashi.