Yankees Finalize Rivera Contract, Sign Prior
NEW YORK (AP) — Mariano Rivera and the New York Yankees have finalized their $30 million, two-year contract.
The 41-year-old closer receives $15 million in each of the next two seasons, with $1.5 million each year deferred with no interest. The deferred money will be paid in $1 million annual installments starting in 2013.
Rivera was 3-3 with a 1.80 ERA and 33 saves in 38 chances this year. The 11-time All-Star has 559 regular-season career saves, second to Trevor Hoffman's 601, and a record 42 in the postseason.
The Yankees also reached a preliminary agreement with catcher Russell Martin and agreed to a minor league contract with right-hander Mark Prior, a deal that potentially could reunite him with former Chicago Cubs teammate Kerry Wood.
Martin will compete for time with Francisco Cervelli and Jesus Montero as Jorge Posada transitions to designated hitter. Martin became a free agent when the Los Angeles Dodgers failed to offer a 2010 contract.
Prior hasn't pitched in the major leagues since 2006, his career derailed by shoulder injuries. The former NL All-Star threw 11 innings over nine outings this year for the Orange County Flyers of the independent Golden Baseball League, striking out 22 of 44 batters while not allowing an earned run. Opponents batted .143 against him
Wood, who teamed with Prior and nearly pitched the Cubs into the 2003 World Series, finished the season as the Yankees' setup man and became a free agent.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
