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03-23-04, 07:18 PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1766025
NEW YORK -- Mariano Rivera has no desire to leave the Yankees. That's why it took little time to negotiate a two-year, $21 million contract extension through 2006.
Yankees owner George Steinbrenner looked on as the deal was announced Tuesday and gave the pitcher a hug.
"I think I was born to be a Yankee," Rivera said. "I want to thank Mr. George to get the opportunity to stay with the Yankees forever, have a chance to get into the Hall of Fame with the pinstripes. That's big for me."
Rivera, MVP of the 1999 World Series and last year's AL Championship Series, helped the Yankees win four Series titles and six AL pennants. He was 5-2 with a career-low 1.66 ERA last year and had 40 saves in 46 chances, increasing his career total to 283.
"He's the best I've ever been around," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "Not only the ability to pitch and perform under pressure, but the calm he puts over the clubhouse. He's very important for us because he's a special person."
Rivera will make $8.89 million in 2004, the final season of a four-year contract. He is baseball's second-highest paid closer behind Atlanta's John Smoltz, who will make $11 million this year.
Rivera's extension calls for $10.5 million salaries in 2005 and 2006. New York has a $10.5 million option for 2007 that would become guaranteed if he has 60 games finished in 2006 or a combined 114 games finished in 2005 and 2006.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman negotiated the deal over the past week with Rivera's agent, Fernando Cuza.
"Without question we're talking about the best reliever, in my opinion, in the history of baseball," Cashman said.
Neither side wanted to negotiate during the season, and Rivera didn't want to become a free agent.
"This is my home," Rivera was quoted as saying in The New York Times on Tuesday. "Why buy another house?"
Rivera put in a plug for Torre, who has been negotiating a two-year extension this spring with general partner Steve Swindal.
As they left the news conference, Steinbrenner told Rivera: "Now we have to get Joe, and we'll have everybody."
Torre and Swindal likely will talk again this week. Torre won't be concerned if the extension isn't agreed to before the season opener next week.
"You want to have it done today or tomorrow, no question," Torre said. "But it doesn't mean if it's not done then, it's going to change anything."
Notes
Steinbrenner said he will not accompany the Yankees to Japan for their season-opening series against Tampa Bay on March 30 and 31. ... SS Joaquin Arias was sent to Texas on Tuesday to complete the Feb 16 trade that brought Alex Rodriguez and $67 million to the Yankees for Alfonso Soriano. Arias, ranked the No. 4 prospect in the Yankees' system by Baseball America, hit .266 for Class A Battle Creek last season with three homers, 48 RBI and 12 steals.
NEW YORK -- Mariano Rivera has no desire to leave the Yankees. That's why it took little time to negotiate a two-year, $21 million contract extension through 2006.
Yankees owner George Steinbrenner looked on as the deal was announced Tuesday and gave the pitcher a hug.
"I think I was born to be a Yankee," Rivera said. "I want to thank Mr. George to get the opportunity to stay with the Yankees forever, have a chance to get into the Hall of Fame with the pinstripes. That's big for me."
Rivera, MVP of the 1999 World Series and last year's AL Championship Series, helped the Yankees win four Series titles and six AL pennants. He was 5-2 with a career-low 1.66 ERA last year and had 40 saves in 46 chances, increasing his career total to 283.
"He's the best I've ever been around," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "Not only the ability to pitch and perform under pressure, but the calm he puts over the clubhouse. He's very important for us because he's a special person."
Rivera will make $8.89 million in 2004, the final season of a four-year contract. He is baseball's second-highest paid closer behind Atlanta's John Smoltz, who will make $11 million this year.
Rivera's extension calls for $10.5 million salaries in 2005 and 2006. New York has a $10.5 million option for 2007 that would become guaranteed if he has 60 games finished in 2006 or a combined 114 games finished in 2005 and 2006.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman negotiated the deal over the past week with Rivera's agent, Fernando Cuza.
"Without question we're talking about the best reliever, in my opinion, in the history of baseball," Cashman said.
Neither side wanted to negotiate during the season, and Rivera didn't want to become a free agent.
"This is my home," Rivera was quoted as saying in The New York Times on Tuesday. "Why buy another house?"
Rivera put in a plug for Torre, who has been negotiating a two-year extension this spring with general partner Steve Swindal.
As they left the news conference, Steinbrenner told Rivera: "Now we have to get Joe, and we'll have everybody."
Torre and Swindal likely will talk again this week. Torre won't be concerned if the extension isn't agreed to before the season opener next week.
"You want to have it done today or tomorrow, no question," Torre said. "But it doesn't mean if it's not done then, it's going to change anything."
Notes
Steinbrenner said he will not accompany the Yankees to Japan for their season-opening series against Tampa Bay on March 30 and 31. ... SS Joaquin Arias was sent to Texas on Tuesday to complete the Feb 16 trade that brought Alex Rodriguez and $67 million to the Yankees for Alfonso Soriano. Arias, ranked the No. 4 prospect in the Yankees' system by Baseball America, hit .266 for Class A Battle Creek last season with three homers, 48 RBI and 12 steals.