New York Yankees Great Mariano Rivera Says He's In Favor Of A Salary Cap To Promote Fairness

Watch on YouTube ↗  |  May 07, 2026 at 14:00  |  28:32  |  CNBC

Summary

Hall of Fame Yankees closer Mariano Rivera discusses his career, support for a MLB salary cap, and his post-baseball business ventures including a car dealership and a new hot sauce brand. The interview covers his journey from Panama to the majors, the origin of his cutter pitch, and his views on modern baseball rule changes.

  • Rivera supports a salary cap in MLB to promote fairness but criticizes teams that pocket revenue-sharing money.
  • He dislikes the ghost runner and automated strike zone but approves of the pitch clock.
  • Rivera recounts growing up poor in Panama and his unexpected tryout with the Yankees.
  • The cutter pitch was discovered accidentally during a bullpen session in 1997.
  • He shares a betting story with George Steinbrenner after the 2000 World Series.
  • Rivera is launching a hot sauce brand with co-founder Eduardo Ranga.
  • He emphasizes the importance of education for young athletes.
  • His final season ERA was 2.11, and he says he left the game with nothing left in the tank.
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