Major League Baseball

Rivera to have surgery on vocal cords

Published Dec. 1, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Yankees closer Mariano Rivera says he will have surgery Friday to remove polyps from his vocal cords.

Talking on Thursday at a charity event, Rivera said the operation at New York-Presbyterian Hospital will prevent him from speaking for a week.

''I don't like surgery, but the sooner, the better,'' Rivera said.

Rivera, who turned 42 on Tuesday, had 44 saves this season to increase his career total to a record 603.

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