Yankees rumors: Mariano Rivera deal 'imminent'

The New York Yankees are finalizing a contract with closer Mariano Rivera that is expected to be completed by Friday, reports Jayson Stark of ESPN:

The Yankees are finishing off a contract with closer Mariano Rivera and expect the deal to be completed by Friday, according to a baseball official who was consulted on the contract.

Stark adds that the deal is for one year and is likely to be for a guaranteed $11-$12 million. This would be a pay cut from the $15 million Rivera earned this season, but the contract would reportedly include incentives that would allow the right-hander to reach 2012’s salary "if he is healthy enough to pitch all season."

Rivera only appeared in nine games for the Yankees last season before sustaining a season-ending injury. The 43-year-old posted an ERA of 1.91 with 44 saves over 64 appearances in 2011. He owns a career ERA of 2.21 over 18 seasons with 8.3 strikeouts and 2.0 walks per nine innings.

If and when the Yankees do re-sign Rivera they will have brought back three veteran arms, also including Hiroki Kuroda and Andy Pettitte, for the 2013 season.