BOSTON -- The New York Mets agreed to a $9.4 million, three-year contract with free-agent reliever David Weathers on Thursday, another step in retooling the team that missed the playoffs last season.

	David Weathers Pitcher New York Mets Profile
	2001 SEASON STATISTICS IP H BB SO W-L ERA 86 65 34 66 4-5 2.41

New York traded Robin Ventura for David Justice last Friday, acquired Roberto Alomar in an eight-player deal from Cleveland on Monday, and signed outfielder Roger Cedeno to a $18 million, four-year contract earlier Thursday.

After going to the World Series in 2000, the Mets went 82-80 this year.

"I believe we are a better team now," Mets general manager Steve Phillips said. "It's a work in progress. We will continue to look for ways to improve."

Weathers went 4-5 with four saves and a 2.41 ERA last season for Milwaukee and the Chicago Cubs. He will be a right-handed setup man for closer Armando Benitez, taking over the role of Turk Wendell, who was traded to Philadelphia last July.

"This was a need move for us. We were looking to fill the seventh, eighth-inning role, the Turk Wendell type of role," Phillips said. "He's taken a step forward each of the last three years. He'll be a fine addition to our staff."

Weathers turned down a chance to close in order to be a setup man for the Mets.

"I feel comfortable in what I do," he said. "There's not much difference in closing out the eighth inning or closing out the ninth."

The 32-year-old Weathers pitched in New York for the Yankees for parts of the 1996 and 1997 seasons.

He went 0-3 with a 9.57 ERA in 21 games for the Yankees, but helped New York win the 1996 World Series, going 2-0 with an 0.82 ERA in seven postseason appearances that season.

Weathers will be paid a $1 million signing bonuses and annual salaries of $1.5 million in 2002, $3.3 million in 2003 and $3.6 million in 2004. He can also earn up to $350,000 a year in appearance bonuses: $100,000 for 70 games, $100,000 more for 75 games, and an additional $150,000 for 80 games.

He also can earn up to $750,000 a year in bonuses if he becomes a closer.