NEW YORK (AP) – Free agent reliever Tom Gordon and the New York Yankees reached agreement Monday night on a two-year, $7.25 million contract, The Associated Press learned.

The deal was finalized after Gordon passed a physical earlier in the day, a baseball source familiar with the negotiations said on the condition of anonymity.

The Yankees scoured the majors last season, trying to find a dependable right-hander to set up for closer Mariano Rivera. Steve Karsay held that spot in 2002, but missed the entire year because of an injured right shoulder and his return is not 100 percent certain.

Jeff Nelson, Armando Benitez, Dan Miceli, Antonio Osuna and Juan Acevedo were among the righty relievers the Yankees brought into New York for last season in an attempt to fill the role.

General manager Brian Cashman was busy all year shuffling his bullpen. Lefties Gabe White, Felix Heredia and Jesse Orosco also were acquired in midseason.

After losing to the Florida Marlins in six games in the World Series, the Yankees again turned their attention to the bullpen. Gordon, 36, and fellow right-handed free agents Paul Quantrill and Shigetoshi Hasegawa had attracted their interest.

Gordon was 7-6 with a team-high 12 saves and a 3.16 ERA for the Chicago White Sox last season.

He pitched in 66 games, striking out 91 in 74 innings.

Known for a knee-buckling curveball, “Flash” Gordon has made a nifty comeback from injuries that threatened to end his career. He had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in December 1999 and spent the next 16 months rehabilitating.

Even after he recovered, Gordon was beset by injuries to his triceps and shoulder.

Gordon signed with the White Sox after pitching for the Chicago Cubs and Houston in 2002.

Gordon is 113-107 with 110 saves and a 4.07 ERA in a 15-year career that started with Kansas City. He was an All-Star in 1998, when he led the AL with 46 saves for Boston.

Tampa Bay, Oakland and the New York Mets were among the other teams that were interested in Gordon last month.

Gordon had thought about returning to a closer’s role for next season, though he left open the possibility of being a setup man for two teams – the Philadelphia Phillies, with recently acquired Billy Wagner, and the Yankees.

Gordon reached the postseason twice in his career, with Boston in 1998 and 1999. He has never made it to the World Series.

AP-ES-12-01-03 2138EST