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New York • The great Mariano Rivera is getting set to close his career.

The New York Yankees' reliever plans to announce this weekend that he will retire after the 2013 season, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because there was no announcement. A news conference was called for Saturday at the Yankees' spring training complex in Tampa, Fla.

The 43-year-old closer is baseball's saves leader with 608. He is regarded as one of the best clutch pitchers in history, posting a record 42 postseason saves with an 0.70 ERA while helping the Yankees win five World Series championships.

Rivera missed most of last season after he tore a ligament in his right knee while catching fly balls during batting practice. The right-hander was hurt May 3 and had surgery the next month.

Rivera returned home to Panama this week for a personal matter, and was expected to rejoin the team Saturday. There was a good chance Rivera would pitch in an exhibition game for the first time this spring later that day.

Around the majors

Brewers • Milwaukee general manager Doug Melvin is back at spring training after a scorpion sting landed him in the hospital.

Melvin says he thought he saw a bug scurrying across the floor of his condominium Wednesday night and bent down to pick it up with a tissue. It turned out to be a scorpion, and he got stung.

Melvin spent three hours in the emergency room but now describes it as no big deal.

Cardinals • St. Louis shortstop Rafael Furcal will undergo ligament replacement surgery in his right elbow and expects to miss the 2013 season.

Furcal made the decision after visiting Dr. James Andrew's clinic in Pensacola, Fla., on Wednesday.

White Sox • Chicago says it has agreed on a five-year, $32.5 million contract with left-handed starter Chris Sale.

The 23-year-old went 17-8 with a 3.05 EA and 192 strikeouts in his first season a starter. He was on the American League All-Star team and finished sixth in the Cy Young voting.