Yankees agree with ex-Mets lefty Feliciano

Brian Cashman preached "patience" earlier this week after losing out on Cliff Lee, but it didn't mean the general manager was planning on coasting into the holidays.

He secured another player Friday as lefthanded reliever Pedro Feliciano agreed in principle to a multiyear contract.

The Yankees will not announce the deal - reported to be for two years, including a club option, in the neighborhood of $8 million - until Feliciano passes his physical, but the former Met confirmed the news himself late Friday morning, as did a source with knowledge of the agreement.

"I think it was a good thing to stay in New York,'' he told espn.com. "I mean, that's the best city in the States.''

Feliciano's physical likely will take place early next week.

It was Cashman's second significant move this week that addressed a need, with the first being the signing of Russell Martin as the starting catcher.

The signing of Feliciano fills a need Cashman spoke about in early November - giving manager Joe Girardi a second lefty to go with Boone Logan.

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Feliciano, 34, has been durable and effective as a specialist against lefties. He led the majors in appearances in each of the last three seasons with 86, 88 and 92 and has held lefthanded batters to a .214 batting average, .282 on-base percentage and .297 slugging percentage in his career. Last season he limited lefthanded hitters to a .211 average, .297 OBP and .276 SLG. Aside from the 2005 season, which he spent in Japan, he has pitched for the Mets since 2002 and has a career 3.31 ERA.

Dialogue with Feliciano heated up during the winter meetings earlier this month in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. But virtually all non-Cliff Lee business was put on hold until the lefthanded ace made his decision to join the Phillies earlier this week.

When Lee agreed with Philadelphia shortly before midnight Monday, the Yankees turned to their Plan B, which Cashman said would be patience. There still is work to do - they are in the market for a setup man and some depth for their bench - but the most glaring need is the starting rotation, something Girardi didn't downplay Thursday.

"We have to add another guy to our rotation, there's no doubt about it," Girardi said at the team's annual food drive at Yankee Stadium Thursday. "And Cliff Lee was a huge prize this winter, but we didn't get him. You move on."

A decision by Andy Pettitte to return in 2011 - sources have told Newsday for several weeks that he's leaning that way - would alleviate that need somewhat, but even if he does come back, the Yankees will be looking to bolster the rotation.

The next-best free-agent starter is Carl Pavano, but because of his disastrous past with the Yankees, he's not an option they are discussing. The best available starter on the trading block is the Royals' Zack Greinke, but the Yankees have doubts about his ability to handle New York and aren't currently involved in his pursuit.

As Cashman has said all week, not everything needs to be fixed in December.

"Will we solve all the problems we have now?" he said. "I don't want to mislead anyone and say yes. It doesn't all have to happen in the wintertime."