Mariano Rivera Signs $10 Million Deal With Yankees

Mariano Rivera is back with the Yankees, signing a $10 million contract just seven months after suffering an injury that caused him to miss almost the entire 2012 season.

According to CBS Sports Insider John Heyman, Mariano Rivera’s deal with the Yankees includes the guaranteed $10 million along with bonuses based on awards and incentives benchmarks.

The deal with Mariano Rivera comes as the team’s closer in 2012, Rafael Soriano, is expected to leave the team via free agency. Soriano did a solid job filling in for Rivera, ending the season with 42 saves, but is expected to land elsewhere for the 2013 season, the New York Daily News reported.

Soriano was rumored to be headed to Detroit, the the Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski told the Detroit News on Thursday that the team isn’t looking for a closer.

The 43-year-old Rivera only pitched 8 1/3 innings in 2012 before injuring his knee while taking fly balls in practice. He underwent surgery in June to repair his ACL and meniscus, and just in November was was able to return to the mound to pitch in offseason work.

It is believed that if he stays on track, Mariano Rivera will be fully recovered by the start of the 2013 season, and the Yankees believe he will again be an elite closer. Rivera already has Hall of Fame credentials, owning the lowest park- and league-adjusted ERA in baseball history among pitchers with at least 1,000 innings logged.

His best days are not all in the past, either. In each of his last four seasons, Mariano Rivera has posted an ERA south of 2.00