Mariano Rivera was adamant that he would be back next season after tearing his ACL shagging fly balls in May, but now he is having second thoughts.
The New York Yankees closer announced his plans to return for 2013 in the most badass way possible. Several months later, he’s reconsidering his future plans.
ESPN New York reported on Thursday that Rivera informed General Manager Brian Cashman that he was unsure if he would play again or retire.
“He wasn’t certain on what he is going to do,” Cashman told ESPN.
Manager Joe Girardi indicated during his end of season press conference on Wednesday that Rivera’s future was uncertain.
“From watching how he rehabbed and everything that he was going through, picked up a baseball sooner than he was supposed to and got his hand smacked a little bit, that would tell me that Mo probably wants to play,” Girardi said. “But in saying that, it’s a decision that I think he’ll sit down with his family, evaluate where he is maybe a little bit later in this process and how he feels and how his arm feels, to feel like you think you can compete at the same level he’s always competed at. But I don’t think that you push a rehab like he pushed it unless you think that you possibly have some interest in coming back.”
Rivera turns 43 next month and would be entering his 19th season in MLB. He has said he would only continue playing if he could perform at an elite level. That hasn’t been a problem for Rivera, who has been as dominant as ever over the past five seasons. He looked good through nine appearances this season, so I imagine he could continue pitching at an All-Star level next season. Hopefully he comes back for a 19th year.
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