Mo Rivera Interested in Mets
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Mo Rivera Interested in Mets
According to sources in New York, Yankees closer Mariano Rivera is sincere in his interest in playing for the New York Mets next year. He isn't happy with how his contract was handled during the spring prior to the season, or with the uncertainty of Joe Torre's status as the Yankees manager. After the dust settles on the Torre situation, Rivera intends to get in touch with Mets manager Willie Randolph, who knew Rivera from his time as a Yankees coach.
It will be interesting to see whether the Mets have a corresponding interest, and how Rivera would fit with the Mets. Mets closer Billy Wagner still has two years remaining on the four-year, $43M contract he signed in November of 2005. Rivera would seemingly require at least a two-year, $20M deal, meaning the Mets would have more than $20M per year tied up in two older closers. Wagner will be 36 at the start of next season and Rivera 38.
Could Wagner and Rivera co-exist? Would the Mets go through the hassle and potential expense of signing Rivera and trading Wagner – perhaps just for one-upmanship in their battle with the Yankees for attention?
