NEW YORK -- Raul Mondesi put on his neat, new ''NY'' hat for the first time, gave it a tug and broke into a big smile.

''Perfect,'' he said.

Likewise, the New York Yankees hope Mondesi will be the right fit in right field.

Acquired a day earlier from Toronto for Double-A reliever Scott Wiggins, Mondesi went hit an RBI single and score twice in Tuesday night's 10-5 win over Cleveland.

''I know how to play the game,'' he said.

Mondesi batted fifth in a lineup for a first-place team that leads the majors in homers and runs scored, and went 1-for-2.

''Now, I know I'm going to play for something,'' Mondesi said before the game. ''Now, I know I have a good chance to play for a champion team.

''I don't want to say anything bad against the Blue Jays, but every game we played, the first few innings, we were losing 5-0, 6-0.''

Known for power, speed and a cannon arm, the former All-Star is in his 10th season in the majors. But he has yet to play for a team that's won even a single postseason game.

''I don't know what place they were in,'' said pitcher David Wells, a former Toronto teammate, ''but being here, he's coming to a winning team.''

The Yankees have reached five of the last six World Series, and will send six players to next week's All-Star Game. The only position where they did not have an All-Star is the outfield.

Shane Spencer and John Vander Wal have not hit well while trying to replace the retired Paul O'Neill. During the weekend against the Mets, manager Joe Torre sent infielder Enrique Wilson to right for his first career start in the outfield.

''A lot of things accelerated this,'' Torre said.

Including owner George Steinbrenner. The Yankees owner never blinked when Mondesi, hitting only .224 despite 15 home runs and 45 RBI, became available.

The Yankees will pay half of Mondesi's $11 million salary this year, and will pick up $7 million of his salary next season while Toronto pays $6 million.

''That's George Steinbrenner. He's hungry to win,'' Torre said. ''He likes the fact that he can afford to do this.''

The Yankees began the season with a major league-leading $126 million payroll. Torre was aware this deal will stir up more resentment among baseball fans who curse the team's heavy spending.

''The people who hate us are going to hate us more,'' Torre said.

Most everyone in the Yankees' clubhouse, however, seemed excited about the newest arrival. Except Spencer and Vander Wal, naturally.

''If they're going to jerk me and Vander Wal around, they might as well go out and get somebody here. They did,'' Spencer said. ''He's going to love it here. Everybody does.''

Said Vander Wal: ''I can deal with it. You go on.''

Mondesi comes to a city where he has a brother and a sister. The Yankees did their best to make Mondesi comfortable in the clubhouse.

Pitcher Ted Lilly switched his jersey to No. 45 so that Mondesi could wear his favorite No. 43. First baseman-DH Nick Johnson jokingly asked Mondesi whether he planned on trying to throw out any batters at first base. Hitting coach Rick Down ambled over to ask about Mondesi's preferences in the batting cage.

The Yankees have made a habit of bringing in big names in midseason deals over the years, acquiring stars such as Cecil Fielder, Jose Canseco, Sterling Hitchcock and Denny Neagle.

Mondesi had been recently mentioned in trade speculation involving the Yankees, as had Florida's Cliff Floyd and Colorado's Larry Walker.

''You can't concentrate when you hear your name all the time with trades,'' Mondesi said.

Torre said not seem worried that Mondesi had a blowup with new Toronto manager Carlos Tosca last month after showing up 10 minutes late to a team meeting. Torre said the 31-year-old Mondesi starts with a ''clean slate'' and only needed to play hard and show up on time.

Mondesi added there was one other change, too. Told the Yankees don't wear jewelry on the field, Mondesi gladly took off his earring.

''No problems,'' he said.

To make room on the roster, the Yankees designated outfielder Karim Garcia for assignment. He went 1-for-5 for New York and scored a run.

Mondesi became the 1,300th player to appear in a game for the Yankees.

''Every player wants to play for the Yankees,'' Mondesi said.