Kinda sad really. From one of the top prospects in baseball to this....Ruben Rivera released, accused of stealing glove

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ESPN.com news services


TAMPA, Fla. -- Ruben Rivera was released from the New York Yankees after stealing a glove and bat from Derek Jeter's locker, a baseball source said Tuesday.

General manager Brian Cashman, who had two meetings with Rivera the past three days, would not say why Rivera was placed on unconditional release waivers Monday night.

But a baseball lawyer familiar with the decision, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Rivera took the equipment from Jeter's locker at spring training and sold them to a sports memorabilia agent.

New York-area newspapers reported that Rivera took the glove but has since returned it. But The New York Times, quoting an unidentified source, said Rivera sold the glove to a memorabilia dealer for $2,500.

"It's obviously upsetting to have something like this happen to your team," said reliever Mike Stanton, the Yankees' union rep. "When something like this happens, it kind of snowballs into something bigger."

Rivera's teammates met with Cashman and manager Joe Torre on Monday afternoon and the team announced its decision later that night.

"I don't think we had a say in the matter," outfielder Bernie Williams said. "We just work here. We don't get to make the decisions. It's just a very unfortunate situation."

Jeter declined to comment on the theft or the release, saying he "didn't want to add fuel to the fire."

Rivera signed a $1 million, one-year guaranteed contract with the Yankees last month but the team negotiated a $200,000 settlement with Rivera on Monday, the lawyer said.

The 28-year-old outfielder originally was signed by the Yankees as free agent in 1990, and spent six years in the organization. He was traded to San Diego in the Hideki Irabu deal in 1997.

Rivera is a cousin of Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, who played a role in bringing the outfielder back to New York this season.

"I am disappointed," Mariano Rivera said. "I prefer not to talk about it."

Ruben Rivera was competing with Gerald Williams for the role as backup center fielder. He has a .218 career average with 58 homers and 185 RBI in 562 games

not only is he a thief, he's a stupid thief....stealing 2500 worth of equipment cost him $800,000 in salary....good move ruben!

Sierra, Sierra, Sierra

The guy is batting around .450