Rivera will have surgery Tuesday

via Ed Price of the Newark Star-Ledger:

Closer Mariano Rivera will undergo arthroscopic surgery Tuesday to remove a calcification from the AC joint on top of his right shoulder. The procedure will be performed by David Altchek at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

The procedure is relatively minor, and Rivera should be ready come spring training. I hope he can be as effective in 2009 as he was this year. If Rivera was to miss some time, I wonder who Girardi would use to close games if Rivera had to miss the first month of the season? Probably Jose Veras, or maybe Mark Melancon, if he makes the team out of spring training.