Former New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera’s new book, “The Closer,” hits bookstores Tuesday, and Boston Red Sox fans might be surprised by some of the praise he gives to one of his old team’s rivals.
In the book, Rivera says he would rather have Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia on his team over his former teammate, former Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano, according to excerpts released by the New York Daily News. In the excerpts, Rivera questions Cano’s drive to win and says he doesn’t believe his former teammate “burns to be the best.”
On the other hand, he pays the ultimate compliment to Pedroia, saying Pedey is “at the top” of his list of players Rivera admires.
“Nobody plays harder, gives more, wants to win more. He comes at you hard for 27 outs. It’s a special thing to see,” Rivera writes of Pedroia. “If I have to win one game, I’d have a hard time taking anybody over Dustin Pedroia as my second baseman.”
The harsh words are likely no skin off Cano’s back, considering he signed a 10-year, $240 million contract with the Seattle Mariners during the offseason.
