NEW YORK — Mariano Rivera has a blood clot in his right calf, the latest health problem for the longtime New York Yankees closer who tore a knee ligament last week while shagging fly balls during batting practice.
Rivera is on blood-thinning medication intended to dissolve the clot and says he is OK, though he was scared when he received the diagnosis. He needs to spend at least a week or two strengthening his knee before he has surgery to repair his torn anterior cruciate ligament — but he says that would have been the case regardless of the blood clot.
The 42-year-old Rivera, baseball’s career saves leader, says he will do whatever it takes to return next season. He says he was leaning toward pitching in 2013 even before the injury.