The Yankees have agreed to re-sign closer Mariano Rivera to a one year $10 million deal plus incentives. Last season, Rivera’s year was cut short by an ACL tear in early May while he was shagging fly balls. Rivera should be ready to pitch by spring training.
Rivera turns 43 today (Happy Birthday!). Since 1980, only 19 pitchers have relived into their age 43 season. Those relievers put together a cumulated just 10 saves through the last 32 years. Rivera will be the oldest official closer since Hoyt Wilhelm finished 39 games in 1970 at the age of 47.
The Yankees have now fulfilled their major pitching needs with three one year deals. The Yankees will still likely add another starter to backup the aging Hiroki Kuroda and Andy Pettitte, as well as another reliever to backup Rivera and replace free-agent Rafael Soriano.
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