Karsay

The Yankees and reliever Steve Karsay have agreed to a four-year deal for about $22 million, The New York Times reported on its Web site Friday morning.

ESPN's Peter Gammons reported Thursday that Karsay's four-year deal would be worth around $23 million and that the deal would be finalized after the team examined the results of a physical Karsay took in New York on Wednesday.

The Times said Karsay's signing will most likely be announced Friday, and that the Yankees are also having serious discussions with Sterling Hitchcock.

Karsay, a 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.

Meanwhile, the Yankees awaited receipt of manager Joe Torre's new $16 million, three-year contract. The deal was completed last week; Torre was in Las Vegas and was to send the signed copy back to the team.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.