Baseball Guru
02-26-2006, 11:07 AM
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-yankees-rivera&prov=ap&type=lgns
February 25, 2006
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Mariano Rivera hasn't ruled out pitching after his current contract expires.
The 36-year-old Yankees closer is in the final season of a $21 million, two-year extension. He has a $10.5 million option for 2007 that likely will become guaranteed if he stays healthy.
"We'll see what happens," Rivera said on Saturday. "Hopefully this year I'll do a good job. I don't want to go ahead."
The Yankees have taken a slow approach in spring training the past few years with Rivera. He has thrown off a bullpen mound three times this spring.
"I haven't pitched, like BP or things like that, but I'm OK with where I'm at right now," Rivera said. "Yes I am."
Rivera is fifth on the career saves list with 379, trailing only Lee Smith (478), Trevor Hoffman (436), John Franco (424) and Dennis Eckersley (390). He isn't thinking yet about the possibility of becoming the career leader.
"I think as I start getting a few more saves," Rivera said. "Get to 400 first."
The right-hander has saved 28 or more games in nine consecutive seasons, the first reliever in major league history to string together such a streak.
Rivera, who has 34 postseason saves, said the biggest task is trying to help the Yankees win their first World Series since 2000.
"That's the most important thing," he said.
Rivera was 7-4 with 43 saves and 1.38 ERA in 71 games last season.
New York opens the exhibition season Thursday against Philadelphia. The Yankees could be without Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon and Bernie Williams for most of the three weeks in March because of the World Baseball Classic.
"I can't worry about it because I have no control over it," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "The players that are going to be away, they know what they need to do. That part doesn't concern me. To me it's spring training time. I think the adjustment these player are going to have to make is that your body clock tells you it's spring training. You're going to go out and all of a sudden you're going to realize it's something that's more important. That's going to be interesting, just how each individual reacts to it."
February 25, 2006
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Mariano Rivera hasn't ruled out pitching after his current contract expires.
The 36-year-old Yankees closer is in the final season of a $21 million, two-year extension. He has a $10.5 million option for 2007 that likely will become guaranteed if he stays healthy.
"We'll see what happens," Rivera said on Saturday. "Hopefully this year I'll do a good job. I don't want to go ahead."
The Yankees have taken a slow approach in spring training the past few years with Rivera. He has thrown off a bullpen mound three times this spring.
"I haven't pitched, like BP or things like that, but I'm OK with where I'm at right now," Rivera said. "Yes I am."
Rivera is fifth on the career saves list with 379, trailing only Lee Smith (478), Trevor Hoffman (436), John Franco (424) and Dennis Eckersley (390). He isn't thinking yet about the possibility of becoming the career leader.
"I think as I start getting a few more saves," Rivera said. "Get to 400 first."
The right-hander has saved 28 or more games in nine consecutive seasons, the first reliever in major league history to string together such a streak.
Rivera, who has 34 postseason saves, said the biggest task is trying to help the Yankees win their first World Series since 2000.
"That's the most important thing," he said.
Rivera was 7-4 with 43 saves and 1.38 ERA in 71 games last season.
New York opens the exhibition season Thursday against Philadelphia. The Yankees could be without Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon and Bernie Williams for most of the three weeks in March because of the World Baseball Classic.
"I can't worry about it because I have no control over it," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "The players that are going to be away, they know what they need to do. That part doesn't concern me. To me it's spring training time. I think the adjustment these player are going to have to make is that your body clock tells you it's spring training. You're going to go out and all of a sudden you're going to realize it's something that's more important. That's going to be interesting, just how each individual reacts to it."