Mariano Rivera is ready to pitch another season with the Yankees for the same reason he wanted to come back immediately after tearing the ACL in his right knee in May.
“Like I told you guys before, I didn’t want to go out like that,” Rivera told MLB.com yesterday. “At the same time, we haven’t discussed anything.
“We’re talking, so hopefully we’ll finalize everything.”
After the Yankees lost to the Tigers in the ALCS, the closer informed general manager Brian Cashman he was considering retirement. But he soon decided otherwise, telling Cashman a week ago he would pitch another season.
The season-ending injury he suffered while shagging a fly ball in Kansas City in May played a key role.
“I didn’t want to go out like that,” said Rivera, who turns 43 on Nov. 29. “I felt like I have something left, and [I should] give it a shot. Why not?”
Now Cashman and Rivera’s agent, Fernando Cuza, are negotiating a one-year deal.
Rivera may be asked to take a pay cut from last year’s salary of $15 million.
Rivera was back on a mound for the first time yesterday, filming a commercial at Hackley School in Tarrytown, and tossed 25 pitches.
“I’m feeling good,” Rivera said. “The rehab has been great. It’s been tough, but at the same time, I’m seeing good results. I can’t wait to continue and stay 100 percent. A day at a time, like I always tell you guys. A day at a time.”
And that, Rivera hopes, will leave him ready for the start of spring training.
“I have a long time to go. I’m not rushing,” the legendary closer said. “I just have to make sure that my knee gets stronger. It does. It’s getting stronger and stronger every day. I’m happy with that. I just have to continue what I’m doing.”