6 Free Agents, Trades Yankees Can Grab If Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte Retire
October 27, 2012 · Ian Casselberry · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
The New York Yankees were counting on having Mariano Rivera back as their closer next season.
That belief was based on Rivera’s own words after he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while shagging fly balls during batting practice in Kansas City on May 3.
“I’m coming back,” Rivera said to reporters, including MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch. “Write it down in big letters. I’m not going down like this. God willing and given the strength, I’m coming back.”
But apparently, MLB’s all-time saves leader has been having some second thoughts during his six months off due to injury. As ESPN New York’s Andrew Marchand reported, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told the press that Rivera informed the team that he doesn’t know if he’ll come back next season or retire.
If Rivera decides not to come back, that obviously changes the Yankees’ offseason plans. Despite coming back from a serious knee injury, the prevailing thought was that he would be the team’s closer next year at the age of 43.
With his uncertainty, Rivera joins another 40-year-old pitcher, Andy Pettitte, in limbo as the Yankees begin to prepare for next season. If both longtime veterans decide to call it career, how will the team replace them?
Here are six suggestions for trades or free-agent signings the Yankees could make to fill those two openings on their roster.
Yankee Tickets
Shop Yankee
