No Panama trip for Yankees, Rivera
Mariano Rivera #42 of the New York Yankees stands on the mound after surrendering a ninth inning two-run home run to Bobby Abreu of the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium. (Aug. 9, 2011) Credit: Jim McIsaac
ARLINGTON, Texas -- It's one spring training trip Mariano Rivera absolutely would have gone on.
But in the end, the Yankees' trip to the closer's homeland of Panama won't be coming off.
In recent months, the Yankees and Major League Baseball engaged in serious discussions about playing a pair of spring training games in Panama in 2012.
It isn't clear exactly when discussions ended, but the trip -- originally discussed as taking place March 16-18 -- didn't work out, Newsday has learned.
"When they asked me about it, I said yes because of Mariano Rivera, obviously," general manager Brian Cashman said Saturday. "Just didn't work out in the end."
Cashman wouldn't say why it didn't beyond noting that he was under the impression the trip at one point was "close" to happening.
The Yankees were to play either the Astros, who have Panama native Carlos Lee, or the Marlins.
It has been a good-natured joke around the Yankees for years that Rivera, who will turn 42 next month, doesn't do spring training road games. Obviously, Rivera, born in Panama City, gladly would have made an exception had the trip worked out.
"It would have been great," Rivera said recently. "It's too bad."
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