Yankees' Rivera hints at retirement

TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 20 (UPI) -- New York Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera said Monday he's made up his mind on whether 2012 will be his last season, but will keep his decision private for now.

The 42-year-old Rivera hinted at retirement as the Yankees gathered in Tampa, Fla., to open spring training, telling reporters he's already decided what he'll do at the end of the upcoming season when his current two-year contract runs out.

"I know now," he told The (Newark, N.J.) Star-Ledger, "(but) I won't let you know now what I know."

The likely future Hall of Fame hurler with five World Series championship rings talked of the hardships of reporting for another spring training and said he's going to stick with his "irrevocable" decision "even if I save 90 games."

Rivera showed few signs of slowing down last year when he racked up 44 saves -- passing Trevor Hoffman's career record of 601 -- and posted a 1.91 ERA.