Mariano Rivera will be back in The Bronx in 2013, as first reported by The Post.
“Rivera contacted us and wants to play,” general manager Brian Cashman said yesterday.
Cashman said he spoke to the closer Friday, the same day the Yankees made a qualifying offer to Rafael Soriano.
Rivera’s return, which was uncertain after he told Cashman following the Yankees’ ouster in the ALCS he was considering retirement, undoubtedly will impact the team’s dealing with Soriano, who is also a free agent and has until Friday to accept the team’s $13.3 million offer.
Cashman said he was not surprised by Rivera’s return and intends to work on a deal with the future Hall of Famer, who turns 43 this month, in the coming week.
Rivera’s agent, Fernando Cuza, said Rivera spoke to his family, as well as owner Hal Steinbrenner, before making his final decision.
“He decided he wants to come back,” Cuza said.
The conversation with Steinbrenner indicates the Yankees have some type of parameters in place for what Rivera will make this season after he made $15 million a year ago.
With Rivera closing, the Yankees will be more unlikely to give Soriano a large contract, because Soriano would be a wildly expensive setup man.
Soriano thrived as the closer following Rivera’s season-ending injury in May. If Rivera had decided to retire, Soriano would have been a good fit to take his spot. Now, with Soriano looking for a multi-year deal, he may not fit in their stated plan to keep payroll to $189 million in 2014.
Rivera pitched in just nine games before tearing the ACL in his right knee while shagging a fly ball in Kansas City on May 3.
The next day at Kaufman Stadium, Rivera vowed to return.
“I’m coming back,” Rivera said at the time. “Put it down. Write it down in big letters. I’m not going down like this.”
At times, it seemed like Rivera might make it back onto the field this past season, even with his surgery delayed by a blood clot. Cashman, though, was adamant throughout the season that was not a possibility.
Rivera had hinted at retirement before, but those who know him found it hard to believe he was ready to end his career — especially considering how hard he worked after the injury.
“I would be surprised if he rehabbed the way he did if he didn’t come back,” pitching coach Larry Rothschild said Friday, before Rivera’s decision was known.
Rivera’s presence also should keep David Robertson in his better-suited eighth-inning role.
The Yankees didn’t need to add another unknown to next season, because they already have plenty of work to do. Andy Pettitte still has to decide whether he wants to play again and they have to try to retain free agent Hiroki Kuroda. Russell Martin also hit the market yesterday and is certain to draw interest, thanks to a lack of available quality catchers.
Nick Swisher’s expected departure will leave a hole in right field which could be filled by Torii Hunter, though Cashman said he had yet to speak with Hunter’s representatives yesterday — the first day teams were allowed to contact free agents from other teams.
Hunter’s former team, the Angels, did not make him a qualifying offer, so the Yankees wouldn’t have to surrender a draft pick if they end up signing the 37-year-old.