Mariano Rivera

The Yankees yesterday signed Mariano Rivera to a two year extension worth $21 million that has a option for a third year at $10.5 million. Rivera should be a first ballot Hall of Famer and I'm not arguing that he hasn't earned this money through years of service but I would be remiss if I didn't point out that the Red Sox signed Keith Foulke for three years for the same amount the Yankees just extended Rivera for two years.

Rivera is 34 years old while Foulke is 31. It is possible that Rivera will be like the last closer to make the Hall - Dennis Eckersley - and be productive well into his late 30's. It is more likely though that Rivera will suffer the inevitable breakdown of age. Consider that the guy Rivera replaced - John Wettland was basically all-done at age 33 and three other guys who Rivera is similar to (Troy Percival, Tom Henke and Trevor Hoffman) started to have health and arm issues about this age.