Mariano Rivera, almost universally considered the greatest relief pitcher in baseball history, is expected to announce that he will retire at the end of the season, according to the New York Post.
Speculation that Rivera would retire at the end of last year was rampant, and Rivera himself was coy about which way he was leaning. Any such designs were dismantled when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament shagging fly balls in the outfield before a May 3rd loss to the Kansas City Royals last year. Rivera missed the remainder of the season and vowed to return in 2013.
Rivera is set to make his spring debut Saturday, and make the announcement about his future at 10:00 a.m. The New York Post reported that he recently requested to speak privately with Yankees' owners Hank and Hal Steinbrenner. According to reports Rivera appears to have healed nicely and isn't showing any signs of the injury lingering.
Rivera has recorded 608 saves, the most all-time and has been a part of five World Series titles in the Bronx. Since becoming the closer in 1997, Rivera has been a model of consistency, recording at least 30 saves every year until last season when he injured his knee. He has also been one of the greatest postseason pitchers of all time, appearing in 16 American League Division Series, nine American League Championship Series, and seven World Series. He has 42 playoff saves and a 0.70 career ERA in 141 postseason innings.
In February, Rivera hinted that his mind was already made up. "Yes, I have (made a decision. I won't give it up until I'm ready for that. Yes, I have. Yes, I have. But again, I will tell you guys when I think it's the right moment." Apparently, that time has come for Rivera. Yankees fans will hope that Rivera's impending retirement will motivate and inspire his teammates the way Ray Lewis' announcement lit a fire under the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens.
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