Mariano Rivera plans to announce before opening day if this will be his final season New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera says he's reached a decision on whether this will be his final season and plans to announce it before opening day. "Yes, I have," Rivera said Wednesday after the Yankees" first spring training workout for pitchers and catchers. But again, I will tell you guys when I think it's the right moment. The 43-year-old reliever had surgery June 12 to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, an injury that occurred while he was shagging fly balls during batting practice in Kansas City on May 3. The right-hander expects to be ready for the regular season. He threw 25 pitches off a bullpen mound and said it felt good. "It was wonderful to be out there again," Rivera said.