Yanks, Posada agree to $52.4M deal; Rivera gets offer</p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> NEW YORK -- The New York Yankees and Jorge Posada agreed Monday night to a $52.4 million, four-year contract that keeps the catcher off the free-agent market.</p> Posada, a five-time All-Star who is 36, said Sunday he was "really close" to an agreement with the Yankees and his preference is to remain with the only major league team he's played for. A person familiar with the talks confirmed the deal to The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because the team didn't announce it.</p> The New York Daily News also reported on Monday night that the sides had reached an agreement.</p> New York also was trying to re-sign Mariano Rivera before Tuesday, when free agents could start talking money with all clubs.</p> Senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner said earlier Monday that Rivera had already received an improved offer and that the team was hoping to get an answer on one of the two that night.</p> Steinbrenner said he believed Posada when he said he wanted to stay in New York.</p> "A lot of that now that the players and agents do, it's just spin," Steinbrenner said. "But the bottom line is I think he means it."</p> Rivera, an eight-time All-Star, was in the Dominican Republic on Monday. Rivera, who turns 38 on Nov. 29, said Monday if he couldn't reach a deal with New York, he would consider following manager Joe Torre to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The closer is expected to receive a three-year contract.</p> "The Yankees are my first option," he said in Santo Domingo. "But if that is not possible, there is Joe with the Dodgers."</p> General manager Brian Cashman said re-signing the pair are his top priorities right now.</p> </div></p> I've always liked Posada.</p>
