Yankeeland a contract with the Yankee legend could be agreed to over the span of a few dinner conversations.

But Brian Cashman has been given control over such matters for the past couple of years. And his track record has shown him to be much tighter with the Bosses purse. He has performed brilliantly and removed much deadwood from the Yankee organization. He is in the midst of rapidly transforming the Yankees from a roster of slow aging big name players into a team featuring brilliant young talent and a promising farm system.

But while Cashman's performance in the past two years is worthy of high praise, we hope he will show an ability to adjust his methods and sign Mariano Rivera soon. We hope he'll lock up Rivera now for a few reasons. First, Riv

Hall of Fame bound Mariano Rivera has recently stirred up the New York Yankees rumor mill with recent comments concerning his future. The 2007 season is Mo Rivera's last year under contract with the Yankees. The 38 year old stopper said that while he would "love" to re-sign with the Bronx Bombers and finish his fabled career in pinstripes; he would sign with another franchise if the Yankee brass fails to give him the "respect" he rightly feels he deserves.

Will the New York Yankees offer an acceptable contract to their career leader in saves? Or will the clutch fireman be allowed to walk after the 2007 season? That will be the focus of this edition of New York Yankees rumors.

We'll take a look back at the career of Mariano Rivera. We'll chart his rise from skinny set up man for John Wetteland to becoming the best closer in baseball history. We will review his stellar performances in the playoffs and in World Series action. And finally, we'll take a look at his present situation and try to determine where Rivera's future lies.

The Panamanian reliever was called up by the New York Yankees on May 23, 1995 and quickly established himself as part of a dynamic one-two punch with then closer John Wetteland. Rivera was the eighth inning set up man. This twosome was an integral part of the Yankees return to World Championship glory in the 1996 World Series against the Atlanta Braves.

When Wetteland left the Yankees via the free agent market there was concern about whether the skinny Panamanian reliever could fill his spikes and become the Yankees closer. A decade later, and three additional World Series championships later; all such concerns have been resoundingly dismissed. Not only did Rivera ably fill the closer role but he is now considered the best fireman of all time.

In the regular seasons of 1997 through 2006 inclusive, Rivera has posted 408 saves for an average of over 40 saves per year. He has posted an earned run average of under 2.00 in 7 of those 10 years. He's never had an ERA of above 2.85 during that stretch. He has won 5 American League Fireman of the Year Awards.

As impressive as his regular season performance has been, Rivera's post season performances are what make him the best closer ever. The statistics are eye popping. A World Series ERA of just 1.16 for 30 innings of World Series relief roles and a cumulative post season ERA of 0.80 over the course of 112 innings pitched have set the standard for all relief pitchers that will follow.

Sure, there have been chinks in the armor -notably the David Ortiz blast in Boston's great comeback in 2004-but nothing can diminish what Rivera has accomplished in the clutch.

After all that glory it is fair to ask,"Why don't the New York Yankees just go ahead and extend Mariano's contract and insure he finishes his career as a Yankee?". It seems whatever they will pay in the spring will be cheaper that having to pursue Rivera as a free agent on the open market after the season. Certainly if George Steinbrenner still tightly held all the power in Yankeeland a contract with the Yankee legend could be agreed to over the span of a few dinner conversations.

But Brian Cashman has been given control over such matters for the past couple of years. And his track record has shown him to be much tighter with the Bosses purse. He has performed brilliantly and removed much deadwood from the Yankee organization. He is in the midst of rapidly transforming the Yankees from a roster of slow aging big name players into a team featuring brilliant young talent and a promising farm system.

But while Cashman's performance in the past two years is worthy of high praise, we hope he will show an ability to adjust his methods and sign Mariano Rivera soon. We hope he'll lock up Rivera now for a few reasons. First, Rive

from skinny set up man for John Wetteland to becoming the best closer in baseball history. We will review his stellar performances in the playoffs and in World Series action. And finally, we'll take a look at his present situation and try to determine where Rivera's future lies.

The Panamanian reliever was called up by the New York Yankees on May 23, 1995 and quickly established himself as part of a dynamic one-two punch with then closer John Wetteland. Rivera was the eighth inning set up man. This twosome was an integral part of the Yankees return to World Championship glory in the 1996 World Series against the Atlanta Braves.

When Wetteland left the Yankees via the free agent market there was concern about whether the skinny Panamanian reliever could fill his spikes and become the Yankees closer. A decade later, and three additional World Series championships later; all such concerns have been resoundingly dismissed. Not only did Rivera ably fill the closer role but he is now considered the best fireman of all time.

In the regular seasons of 1997 through 2006 inclusive, Rivera has posted 408 saves for an average of over 40 saves per year. He has posted an earned run average of under 2.00 in 7 of those 10 years. He's never had an ERA of above 2.85 during that stretch. He has won 5 American League Fireman of the Year Awards.

As impressive as his regular season performance has been, Rivera's post season performances are what make him the best closer ever. The statistics are eye popping. A World Series ERA of just 1.16 for 30 innings of World Series relief roles and a cumulative post season ERA of 0.80 over the course of 112 innings pitched have set the standard for all relief pitchers that will follow.

Sure, there have been chinks in the armor -notably the David Ortiz blast in Boston's great comeback in 2004-but nothing can diminish what Rivera has accomplished in the clutch.

After all that glory it is fair to ask,"Why don't the New York Yankees just go ahead and extend Mariano's contract and insure he finishes his career as a Yankee?". It seems whatever they will pay in the spring will be cheaper that having to pursue Rivera as a free agent on the open market after the season. Certainly if George Steinbrenner still tightly held all the power in Yankeeland a contract with the Yankee legend could be agreed to over the span of a few dinner conversations.

But Brian Cashman has been given control over such matters for the past couple of years. And his track record has shown him to be much tighter with the Bosses purse. He has performed brilliantly and removed much deadwood from the Yankee organization. He is in the midst of rapidly transforming the Yankees from a roster of slow aging big name players into a team featuring brilliant young talent and a promising farm system.

But while Cashman's performance in the past two years is worthy of high praise, we hope he will show an ability to adjust his methods and sign Mariano Rivera soon. We hope he'll lock up Rivera now for a few reasons. First, Riv

d fill his spikes and become the Yankees closer. A decade later, and three additional World Series championships later; all such concerns have been resoundingly dismissed. Not only did Rivera ably fill the closer role but he is now considered the best fireman of all time.

In the regular seasons of 1997 through 2006 inclusive, Rivera has posted 408 saves for an average of over 40 saves per year. He has posted an earned run average of under 2.00 in 7 of those 10 years. He's never had an ERA of above 2.85 during that stretch. He has won 5 American League Fireman of the Year Awards.

As impressive as his regular season performance has been, Rivera's post season performances are what make him the best closer ever. The statistics are eye popping. A World Series ERA of just 1.16 for 30 innings of World Series relief roles and a cumulative post season ERA of 0.80 over the course of 112 innings pitched have set the standard for all relief pitchers that will follow.

Sure, there have been chinks in the armor -notably the David Ortiz blast in Boston's great comeback in 2004-but nothing can diminish what Rivera has accomplished in the clutch.

After all that glory it is fair to ask,"Why don't the New York Yankees just go ahead and extend Mariano's contract and insure he finishes his career as a Yankee?". It seems whatever they will pay in the spring will be cheaper that having to pursue Rivera as a free agent on the open market after the season. Certainly if George Steinbrenner still tightly held all the power in Yankeeland a contract with the Yankee legend could be agreed to over the span of a few dinner conversations.

But Brian Cashman has been given control over such matters for the past couple of years. And his track record has shown him to be much tighter with the Bosses purse. He has performed brilliantly and removed much deadwood from the Yankee organization. He is in the midst of rapidly transforming the Yankees from a roster of slow aging big name players into a team featuring brilliant young talent and a promising farm system.

But while Cashman's performance in the past two years is worthy of high praise, we hope he will show an ability to adjust his methods and sign Mariano Rivera soon. We hope he'll lock up Rivera now for a few reasons. First, Riv

es ERA of just 1.16 for 30 innings of World Series relief roles and a cumulative post season ERA of 0.80 over the course of 112 innings pitched have set the standard for all relief pitchers that will follow.

Sure, there have been chinks in the armor -notably the David Ortiz blast in Boston's great comeback in 2004-but nothing can diminish what Rivera has accomplished in the clutch.

After all that glory it is fair to ask,"Why don't the New York Yankees just go ahead and extend Mariano's contract and insure he finishes his career as a Yankee?". It seems whatever they will pay in the spring will be cheaper that having to pursue Rivera as a free agent on the open market after the season. Certainly if George Steinbrenner still tightly held all the power in Yankeeland a contract with the Yankee legend could be agreed to over the span of a few dinner conversations.

But Brian Cashman has been given control over such matters for the past couple of years. And his track record has shown him to be much tighter with the Bosses purse. He has performed brilliantly and removed much deadwood from the Yankee organization. He is in the midst of rapidly transforming the Yankees from a roster of slow aging big name players into a team featuring brilliant young talent and a promising farm system.

But while Cashman's performance in the past two years is worthy of high praise, we hope he will show an ability to adjust his methods and sign Mariano Rivera soon. We hope he'll lock up Rivera now for a few reasons. First, Riv

Yankeeland a contract with the Yankee legend could be agreed to over the span of a few dinner conversations.

But Brian Cashman has been given control over such matters for the past couple of years. And his track record has shown him to be much tighter with the Bosses purse. He has performed brilliantly and removed much deadwood from the Yankee organization. He is in the midst of rapidly transforming the Yankees from a roster of slow aging big name players into a team featuring brilliant young talent and a promising farm system.

But while Cashman's performance in the past two years is worthy of high praise, we hope he will show an ability to adjust his methods and sign Mariano Rivera soon. We hope he'll lock up Rivera now for a few reasons. First, Rivera shows few signs of being in decline. His ERA has remained below 2.00 in each of the last four years. His clutch playoff experience is an invaluable asset. What Yankees fan wouldn't want to see the Sandman on the mound at the close of Game 7 ?

Secondly, we believe the Yankees will eventually sign Rivera anyway. Why not get the deal done now? That would save the franchise money and show the proper respect to one of the greatest Yankees ever. And finally, we admit to a sentimental reason. We, as Yankee fans, can't bear the thought of not having our security blanket waiting out there in the bullpen night after night. We suspect Joe Torre would agree.