Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies

Yanks lock up star closer

TAMPA - Mariano Rivera has no desire to leave the Yankees. That's why it took little time to negotiate a $21-million, two-year contract extension through 2006.

Owner George Steinbrenner looked on as the deal was announced Tuesday and gave the pitcher a hug.

"I think I was born to be a Yankee," Rivera said. "I want to thank Mr. George to get the opportunity to stay with the Yankees forever, have a chance to get into the Hall of Fame with the pinstripes. That's big for me."

Rivera, MVP of the 1999 World Series and last year's AL Championship Series, helped the Yankees win four Series titles and six AL pennants.

He was 5-2 with a career-low 1.66 ERA last season and had 40 saves in 46 chances, increasing his career total to 283.

"He's the best I've ever been around," manager Joe Torre said. "Not only the ability to pitch and perform under pressure, but the calm he puts over the clubhouse. He's very important for us because he's a special person."

Rivera will make $8.89-million in 2004, the final season of a four-year contract. He is baseball's second highest-paid closer behind Atlanta's John Smoltz, who will make $11-million this year.

Rivera's extension calls for $10.5-million salaries in 2005 and 2006.

BERNIE'S BACK: Bernie Williams is scheduled to make his spring debut as DH in a minor-league game today. Williams has been out since having his appendix removed Feb.26. The Yankees have to decide by this weekend if the centerfielder will start the season on the disabled list, which would make him ineligible to return until the home opener April 8.

A-ROD DEAL COMPLETE: Shortstop Joaquin Arias was sent to Texas to complete the Feb.6 trade that brought Alex Rodriguez and $67-million to the Yankees for Alfonso Soriano. Baseball America ranked Arias as the Yankees' No.4 prospect.

- ASSOCIATED PRESS

BRADENTON - While the Phillies were losing 8-2 to the Pirates on Tuesday on the south side of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, the most important happenings occurred on the other side.

In Clearwater, first baseman Jim Thome decided to take batting practice instead of hitting off a tee at the spring training complex. The reigning NL home run king is recovering so well from his broken right middle finger that he could play first base by Thursday against the Yankees.

Meanwhile, third baseman David Bell was used as a designated hitter in a Triple-A game against Tampa Bay in St. Petersburg, his first meaningful plate appearances since March 11 because of right shoulder tendinitis. Sunday, Bell might start against Toronto.

Finally, the corners of the Phillies infield are healthy, and the entire starting eight should get to play together for the first time before the team breaks camp a week from Thursday.

Still, manager Larry Bowa is concerned whether Thome and Bell will be ready to contribute when the real season begins April 5 at Pittsburgh.

"In the back of your mind, even if they are ready, they aren't ready," Bowa said. "You need 60 or 70 at-bats? Are (Thome and Bell) going to get 60 or 70 at-bats? No.

"That's okay. As long as they're out there and healthy."

Bell, who was 0-for-4 with a walk in his Triple-A appearance, has 13 plate appearances. Thome has three at-bats, all in the Grapefruit League opener March 4, the day before he broke a finger in a fielding drill.

PHILLERS: Touted pitching prospect Gavin Floyd, reassigned to the minor-league camp last week, returned for a day and was knocked out in the second inning against Pittsburgh, allowing five runs and six hits in 11/3 innings. ... Former Rays closer Roberto Hernandez, who left Sunday's game after being struck in the knee with a broken bat, pitched a perfect fifth. ... Bobby Abreu homered in the sixth and Tomas Perez drove in a run in the ninth with his second double to account for the Phillies' runs. ... Todd Pratt was 1-for-3 and caught for the first time since having March 5 knee surgery. ... No.2 starter Randy Wolf pitched four shutout innings in the Triple-A game. The left-hander allowed two hits in a 77-pitch outing.

- RANDY MILLER

DUNEDIN - Blue Jays right-hander Justin Miller has achieved some notoriety, if not celebrity, over MLB's decision to have him wear long sleeves when he pitches to cover up the his tattoos.

"It's kind of taken on a life of its own," Miller said Tuesday. "My phone has kind of been ringing off the hook. I've been on Dan Patrick's show (ESPN radio) and (today) I'm scheduled to be on with Jim Rome.

"I'm just going to have some fun with it."

Miller's initial tattoos were done by friends in California, but since moving to Palm Harbor he has gotten his tattoos done at Mom's Tattoo in Dunedin.

STRIKE IT RICH: Right-hander Josh Towers is a strike-throwing machine to a fault, and in Florida he has been working on throwing the ball off the plate, making hitters chase some pitches.

"It's what I do, throw the ball over the plate," he said. "But I've been trying to make quality pitches, nitpick on the corners a little bit. What I'm trying to do is make better pitches. It's location. Down in the zone, in and out and off the plate a little bit, and make it look as good as it can without it actually being good."

Towers looked as if he pitched two games Tuesday. Through 32/3 innings he held Cleveland to no runs and two hits. But with two out in the fourth he walked Casey Blake, and Lou Merloni followed with a home run. He gave up two more hits in the fourth, then two in the fifth.

The walk was his first of the spring in 15 innings.

"I felt like I got worse as the game went on," Towers said. "The last two innings I went backward a little bit."

- MIKE RUTSEY