Rivera, Yankees Close Deal

The Yankees finally closed a long-term contract with their closer.

Mariano Rivera became the highest-paid relief pitcher in baseball, agreeing Friday to a$39.99-million, four-year contract with the Yankees.

“He’s earned it by the way he’s pitched. He’s the best around right now,” Manager Joe Torre said. “If he hasn’t been our MVP, he’s one of them. It’s really hard to win without a closer.”

Rivera, who made $7.25 million last season, gets an $8-million signing bonus payable over four years, $7.15 million this season, $7.45 million in 2002, $8.5 million in 2003 and $8.89 million in 2004.

“It was a relief,” the slender 31-year-old right-hander said. “Not that I was thinking about it 100%, it was in the back of my mind. I came here for one reason, to get ready for spring training and try to have another good year. Now, it’s much better and it’s over.”

Rivera’s average annual value of $9,997,500 tops San Francisco reliever Robb Nen, who averages $8,125,000 under a $32.5 million, four-year contract that starts this season.

To help close the deal, Yankee owner George Steinbrenner agreed to donate $100,000 to Rivera’s church in Panama.

*

Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews, one of 16 players to hit 500 career homers, is close to death at a hospital near San Diego, his wife said.

“The doctors don’t give him much longer,” Judy Mathews said from the family home in Del Mar, not far from where Mathews is hospitalized at Scripps La Jolla. “His body’s tired of fighting.”

Mathews, 69, has been hospitalized since his wife took him to the emergency room on Sept. 3 after he had trouble breathing.

*

Relief pitcher Rick Aguilera, eighth in baseball history with 318 career saves, is retiring after 16 major league seasons, his agent said. . . . Chicago Cub right-hander Jeremi Gonzalez, who hasn’t pitched in the major leagues since July 1998, has torn cartilage and a sprained ligament in his left knee and could be out for the season. . . . The Atlanta Braves avoided arbitration with Quilvio Veras by agreeing to a $3.9 million, one-year contract with the second baseman. . . . Pitcher Rolando Arrojo and the Boston Red Sox avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract worth $1,625,000. . . . Reliever Gabe White and the Colorado Rockies reached a verbal agreement on a three-year contract worth $7.125 million. The Rockies have never gone to an arbitration hearing. . . . The Baltimore Orioles signed utility player Melvin Mora to a one-year contract. . . . The Seattle Mariners agreed to a minor league contract with infielder Manny Alexander.