When Mariano Rivera first tore up his knee, he made a vow to return for the 2013 season.  As he rehabbed his knee, stayed home with his family, and experienced life without baseball, he started to feel the lure of retirement.  So, Rivera wavered on whether he would return or not and brought this up recently with GM Brian Cashman.  However, it now seems like Rivera is committed to a 2013 return.

According to Bill Madden and Teri Thompson of the New York Daily News, Rivera has notified Cashman that he plans to reutrn for a 19th season.  The question now becomes what will he be paid?  Cashman has now made plans to enter into negotiations for a 2013 contract for Rivera.  Currently, Rivera is officially a free agent. 

Rivera tore his right ACL in May while shagging fly balls (as he routinely does) during the Yankees' batting practice session in Kansas City.  When it happened, it was instantly obvious that the injury was serious.  He missed the rest of the 2012 season. 

Rivera pitched in just nine games this past season, but posted a customarily low 2.16 ERA in those games.  In his career, Rivera has a 2.21 ERA and an all-time high 608 saves.  He has been a fixture at the back end of the Yankees bullpen for more than a decade.  No one wanted to see him go out on an injury.  Now, we will get at least one more season watching one of the greatest pitchers of all-time. 
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