NEW YORK -- Reliever Steve Karsay signed a four-year contract with the New York Yankees on Friday.

	Steve Karsay Relief pitcher New York Yankees Profile
	2001 SEASON STATISTICS GM IP W-L BB SO ERA 74 88 3-5 25 83 2.35

The deal is reportedly worth $23 million. It includes a club option for a fifth year.

The 29-year-old right-hander was 0-1 with one save and a 1.25 ERA in 31 games for Cleveland last season, then was traded to Atlanta on June 22 along with Steve Reed for John Rocker and went 3-4 with a 3.43 ERA in 43 games for the Braves.

Karsay had 20 saves for the Indians in 2000.

"Steve gives us depth and flexibility in the back-end of our bullpen," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "He has a power arm and has developed into one of the most productive relievers in baseball."

Karsay is a native New Yorker, having graduated from Christ the King High School in Flushing.

He posted a combined 3-5 record with a 2.35 ERA and eight saves last season with the Cleveland Indians and Atlanta Braves. He was traded along with Steve Reed to the Braves in June for John Rocker.

Karsay passed a physical on Wednesday. After experiencing elbow problems earlier in his career, the hard-throwing reliever has made 196 appearances over the last three seasons. Karsay underwent surgery for a torn elbow ligament in 1995.

A first-round pick of the Toronto Blue Jays in 1990, Karsay was sent to the Oakland Athletics three years later in a deal for Rickey Henderson. He was traded to Cleveland in 1997.