Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera says knee is about 95 percent

Yankees closer Mariano Rivera says his injured knee is about 95 percent healed. (Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

New York Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera is scheduled to start throwing again in a week and also says his rehabbed knee is about 95 percent, reports MLB.com.

Rivera, 43,  suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and a torn meniscus in his right knee in May and signed a one-year, $10 million deal to return to the Yankees earlier this offseason.

"Oh, yeah, I don't see why not," Rivera told the New York Daily News last month when asked if he would be playing on opening day. "We have at least three months, four months until that point. I'll be ready."

The Yankees open the 2013 season on April 1 against the Boston Red Sox.

Rivera is Major League Baseball's career saves leader with 608 in his 18-year career.