[新聞] Closer finalizes three-year, $45 million deal with Yanke

[alwaysblue (什麼樣的生日....)]

　　Closer finalizes three-year, $45 million deal with Yankees

　　Updated: December 17, 2007, 6:44 PM ET　　

　　NEW YORK -- Mariano Rivera is backing Andy Pettitte.

　　After completing his $45 million, three-year contract with the New York
　　Yankees on Monday, Rivera said he was impressed with Pettitte for admitting
　　that he used human growth hormone after his name was included in the
　　Mitchell report.

　　"The thing that I admire is that he came out and said he did it," Rivera
　　said on a conference call.

　　Rivera was surprised to hear Pettitte was included last week in the report
　　with Roger Clemens and several others on the Yankees teams that won four
　　World Series titles from 1996-2000.　　

　　Pettitte later said he used HGH while he was on the disabled list during
　　the 2002 season.

　　"It was definitely the wrong thing to do," Rivera said.

　　The Yankees' career saves leader said he spoke with Pettitte after the
　　report was released and understood why the left-hander chose to try HGH.
　　Pettitte said he was trying to hurry his recovery from an elbow injury
　　and help his team.

　　"I might have done the same thing. Who knows?" Rivera said.

　　But Rivera also said he had "no idea" any of his teammates were using
　　performance-enhancing drugs and that he was too "naive" to know what HGH
　　was.

　　The 38-year-old Rivera insisted that the Yankees' legacy was safe even
　　though 11 players from their championship run were included in the Mitchell
　　report. They included Clemens, David Justice, Chuck Knoblauch and Mike
　　Stanton.
　　
　　"I don't think that we have to defend anything," Rivera said. "Those years
　　were hard work and a lot of dedication. The whole team was involved, not
　　just two guys."

　　Rivera said he didn't need to hear from Clemens because he doesn't even
　　know if the right-hander used performance enhancers, but that if the report
　　is true -- about Clemens and others -- "the best thing to do is bring it
　　out and put an end to it."

　　Perhaps the key to the dynasty, Rivera figures the deal he agreed to last
　　month will be his final big league contract. He said the holdup was due to
　　his busy schedule and travel for charity work.

　　At the start of spring training this year, Rivera said he would test the
　　market if he became a free agent, but he never seriously considered giving
　　up his pinstripes.

　　"I've been a member of the Yankees for so many years," he said. "I couldn't
　　see myself on another team."

　　Rivera signed with the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1990 and has
　　only played for them in pro ball. He briefly was a starter before moving
　　to the bullpen -- and what a switch that turned out to be.

　　With a bat-breaking cut fastball, Rivera has risen to third on the career
　　saves list with 443, and his 34 saves and 0.77 ERA (minimum 30 innings)
　　are tops in postseason history.

　　Rivera was 3-4 with 30 saves in 34 chances and a 3.15 ERA this season. He
　　is coming off a three-year, $31.5 million contract. His new contract will
　　provide an average salary more than $4 million above what any other
　　reliever currently makes.

　　With Rivera's deal finalized, the Yankees' efforts to bring back the key
　　free agents from this year's squad is complete.

　　Jorge Posada signed a $52.4 million, four-year contract and Alex Rodriguez
　　agreed to a 10-year, $275 million deal. The Yankees also exercised their
　　$16 million option on Bobby Abreu's contract, and Pettitte singed a $16
　　million, one-year deal after mulling retirement.

　　Rivera said Pettitte wouldn't have a problem with the fans when he takes
　　the mound next year.

　　"I would think that he would be received normal," Rivera said. "Everybody
　　makes mistakes."

　　By keeping Rivera, the Yankees can go ahead with their plan to put Joba
　　Chamberlain in the rotation. A rookie last season, Chamberlain quickly
　　impressed the Yankees and earned his way into a spot as Rivera's primary
　　setup man.

　　News source：http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3158544

　　翻譯：http://0rz.tw/673pi

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