Mariano Rivera is officially coming back.  The 43-year old closer missed almost the entire 2012 season with a torn ACL, and he contemplated retirement.  However, Rivera and the Yankees reached an agreement for the future Hall of Famer to pitch one more year.

According to Andrew Marchand of ESPN, the Yankees and Rivera agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal.  The contract is $5 million less than he made in 2012, but considering Rivera's age and the injury, it's a fair price.  Marchand says the deal could be announced today.


Rivera only appeared in nine games this past season.  He blew out his knee while shagging fly balls during batting practice back in May.  The injury cost him the season and almost ended his career.  After initially saying he was determined to come back for another season in 2013, Rivera eventually changed his mind.  He began to lean toward retirement and put the Yankees on notice of this.  However, after much thought, Rivera chose to come back for one more year.

His situation is similar to that of Chipper Jones.  Jones was expected to retire after the 2011 season, but he blew out his knee.  Jones did not want to end his career on an injury, so he returned this past year.  Rivera likely doesn't want his final season in the big leagues to be one in which he played only nine games.

Rivera is the all-time saves leader with 603.  He has a career ERA of 2.21.  He has saved ore games in the postseason than anyone else.  He's quite simply been dominant his entire career.  And he'll play one more year. So enjoy it.
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