Jim Baumbach, Newsday: Rivera is Arod's closest friend on the Yankees.

• Arod and Mo will no doubt catch up, but Mo's been in areas of the Dominican Republic out of cell phone range recently:

(Newsday): "Alex Rodriguez, according to a person familiar with the situation, has been trying to contact Rivera, his closest friend on the team, for the past week to celebrate his impending Yankees deal, but he hasn't been able to do so.

• Rivera is believed to have been one of A-Rod's major sounding boards during the craziness of Rodriguez's past three weeks. Rivera, according to his friend, told Rodriguez as far back as days after A-Rod opted out Oct. 28 that he should approach the Yankees to tell them how he truly felt."

(Previous history of friendship: When Mariano and Arod went to the All Star game in 2006, Arod gave Mo a lift in his private plane. Jeter took other transportation. Some may also recall Rivera spoke to the media after the 2006 post season when Arod took even more flack, said he loved Arod & it wasn't his fault they bombed in the post season. Mo was the only Yankee to make this point to the media). sm

• From Newsday article by Jim Baumbach, "Mariano on Verge of Yankees Deal," 11/18/07

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