San Diego ? Right-handed reliever Jay Witasick rejoined the San Diego Padres on Tuesday, agreeing to a $2.75 million, two-year contract.

Witasick was with the Padres for parts of the 2000 and 2001 seasons before he was traded to the New York Yankees for infielder D’Angelo Jimenez.

Witasick was with the NL champion San Francisco Giants last year, going 1-0 with a 2.37 ERA in 44 games out of the bullpen.

He’ll earn $750,000 in 2003 and $1.75 million in 2004. The Padres hold a $2 million option for 2005 with a $250,000 buyout.

Since 2001, when the Padres turned Witasick into a fulltime reliever, he’s gone 9-2 with one save and a 2.87 ERA in 107 appearances among San Diego, New York and San Francisco.

“Since he moved into his new role out of the bullpen, he’s really adapted to it and done well in it,” general manager Kevin Towers said.