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Girardi hoping to get Rivera to rethink retirement

 
Mariano Rivera has insisted he’ll retire after this season.
Mariano Rivera has insisted he’ll retire after this season.
Published Sept. 5, 2013

NEW YORK — Yankees manager Joe Girardi says he'll talk with Mariano Rivera in the offseason about whether the record-setting closer definitely wants to retire.

Girardi told ESPNNewYork.com late Tuesday that he thought Rivera could still be a very effective closer next season. He said he'll advise baseball's career saves leader to take a month or two this winter to make sure he wants to walk away from the game even though he has stayed healthy all year.

Rivera, 43, announced his plans to retire during spring training and has been on something of a farewell tour around the majors all season. He insisted he has made his decision.

"I told you guys already. I don't know why we're talking about this," Rivera said.

Girardi said he's not lobbying Rivera to return, he would simply be offering the perspective of a former player who retired at 39 because of aches and pains.

In other Yankees news, Girardi said that RHP Phil Hughes, who is 4-13 with a 4.86 ERA in 26 starts this season, will move to the bullpen and be replaced in the rotation by LHP David Huff.

EX-OFFICIAL DIES: Ray Grebey, who led Major League Baseball labor negotiations during the 50-day strike that split the 1981 season, died Aug. 28 in Stamford, Conn., after a bout with stomach cancer. He was 85. Hired by owners in 1978, the pipe-smoking Mr. Grebey was MLB's chief labor negotiator during a turbulent era, when baseball was shut down by eight work stoppages in 23 years.

BAUTISTA OUT FOR YEAR: The Blue Jays are shutting down RF Jose Bautista because of a nagging left hip injury. Bautista has been on the disabled list since Aug. 21.

CABRERA SITS AGAIN: Tigers 3B Miguel Cabrera, who had missed three games with abdominal pain before returning the lineup Tuesday, felt sore and was scratched again.

DUNN PONDERS END: White Sox DH Adam Dunn is considering retiring this offseason rather than try to chase 500 homers, the slugger told foxsports.com. Dunn, 33, has 30 home runs this season and 436 over his 13-year career.

DEAL FOR ANGELS: The Anaheim City Council extended the Angels' stay in the city by at least three years to 2019 and hope to use the time to strike new deals to keep the team even longer.

BRAVES: OF Jordan Schafer was scratched because of a left quadriceps contusion.

CARDINALS: 1B Allen Craig suffered a left foot sprain when he got tangled up with first-base umpire Laz Diaz in the fourth inning. He's scheduled to be reevaluated today.

CUBS: RH reliever Daniel Bard, who was designated for assignment by the Red Sox on Sunday, was claimed off waivers.

DODGERS: OF Yasiel Puig sat out a second straight game with a mild right knee strain. … Hyun-Jin Ryu was scratched because of a back injury and replaced by RHP Edinson Volquez.

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GIANTS: C Buster Posey was scratched a day after losing the nail on his right ring finger during a game. Posey said the finger is still sore.

METS: Manager Terry Collins said he's not expecting 1B Ike Davis to return from his strained right oblique this season.

NATIONALS: OF Bryce Harper sat out to rest his ailing hip and will get an extra day's rest because of today's scheduled off day.

PADRES: CF Cameron Maybin will have surgery on his right wrist and miss the rest of the season.