The New York Yankees have exercised the 2012 options on the contracts of second baseman Robinson Cano and right fielder Nick Swisher, the team announced Saturday.

Next season, Cano and Swisher are set to make $14 and $10.25 million, respectively.

This season, Cano, who won the 2011 Home Run Derby in Phoenix, hit .302 with 28 home runs and 118 runs batted in.

Cano is a three-time all-star, has won one Gold Glove Award and is a two-time Silver Slugger Award winner.

Swisher, a 2010 AL All-Star, hit .260 with 23 homers and drove in 85 runs.

The Yankees have another option on Cano next year. When they exercise it, the second baseman will be owed $15 million in 2013.

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Yankees’ longtime closer Mariano Rivera will be hoping to secure his 42nd save of the season and 601st of his career – tying him with all-time leader Trevor Hoffman – as early as Friday night. (Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

CC Sabathia and Mariano Rivera could both make history in the next game as the New York Yankees continue their push for an American League East title.

Sabathia goes for his 20th win while Rivera could be in line to match the league’s all-time saves record as the Yankees open a three-game set against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday (7:07 p.m. ET).

New York (90-58) is going for its sixth straight win over Toronto as it tries to further separate itself from second-place Boston.

The Yankees are certainly sending the right pitcher to the mound in Sabathia (19-8, 2.93 earned-run average), who has beaten the Blue Jays three times this season and seven straight overall.

Sabathia is trying to become the first Yankees pitcher to win 20 games in back-to-back seasons since Tommy John in 1979-80. He failed in his first try after giving up one run, walking four and striking out five in six innings of a 6-0 loss to Los Angeles last Saturday.

The left-hander picked up his 19th win against Toronto on Sept. 4, allowing two runs while striking out 10 in 7 1/3 innings of a 9-3 victory.

Sabathia doesn’t figure to have to wait too long for win No. 20. The Blue Jays have hit .195 off him this season, managing seven runs and 17 hits in 24 1/3 innings. He’s also won his last three starts at Rogers Centre, posting a 1.48 ERA.

He and the Yankees lineup will try to put Rivera in position to tie Trevor Hoffman’s all-time mark after he didn’t get an opportunity in a 2-1, 12-inning loss to Seattle on Wednesday.

600 saves

Rivera recorded his 600th career save the night before.

Wednesday’s loss snapped New York’s three-game winning streak. Nick Swisher homered in the seventh, but Luis Rodriguez hit a game-winning shot off Cory Wade in the 12th.

“We lost a lot of one-run games on this trip and that’s the hard part,” manager Joe Girardi said. “We lost three games by one run each. But our club has been pretty good to win two out of three. You’ve got to keep doing that.”

While the Yankees couldn’t muster much offence Wednesday, they expect to have Alex Rodriguez back in the lineup Friday after he missed the last five games with a thumb injury.

Toronto (75-74) has helped New York over the last two weeks, winning four of six against Boston. The Blue Jays and Red Sox split a two-game set this week, with Toronto rallying for a 5-4 win Wednesday.

Loewen shines

Toronto scored three times in the eighth, taking the lead on Adam Loewen’s two-run single.

Loewen, who broke into the majors as a pitcher before transitioning to a hitter, is 5-for-14 with one homer and three RBIs since his call-up.

“Amazing. It’s crazy,” Ricky Romero, who picked up the win Wednesday, said. “Just to make that transition from a pitcher to a position player, you never really see that and he’s done a tremendous job for us.”

Dustin McGowan will try to help the Blue Jays end their losing streak against the Yankees. Brett Cecil was supposed to take the mound for Toronto but was a late scratch after cutting his left index finger while cleaning out a blender.

The 25 year old is only expected to miss one start.

McGowan, 29, will make his third appearance of the season and second start with the Jays since being recalled from AA New Hampshire.

He is currently 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA in his return to Toronto after not pitching in the majors since July 8, 2008, after two surgeries on his shoulder and another on his elbow.

SEATTLE (AP)—For the past couple of seasons, the one pitcher who could
consistently stifle the New York Yankees was Seattle ace Felix Hernandez(notes).

That run came to an abrupt end Monday night as Robinson Cano(notes) hit a three-run
double, Mark Teixeira(notes) and Chris Dickerson(notes) homered and the Yankees rolled past
Hernandez and the Mariners 9-3.

“I think we’ve got a great team. The credit goes to us, man,” said Nick
Swisher(notes), who had one of New York’s 14 hits. “He’s a great pitcher and we put up
some good at-bats off him. You don’t see that very often. You have to give
credit where credit is due. Our guys did a great job tonight.”

Hernandez (14-12), last year’s AL Cy Young Award winner, entered with an
exemplary history against the Yankees. Over his previous six starts against New
York dating to Sept. 18, 2009, Hernandez was 5-0 with a 1.29 ERA, the longest
winning streak by a Mariners pitcher against the Yankees.

Overall, he was 6-3 with a 2.82 ERA in 10 career starts against New York.

“They’ve got a pretty good lineup,” Hernandez said. “You have to respect
that and make good pitches. In that (fourth) inning, I just made a couple
mistakes and got hit.”

The Yankees roughed up Hernandez for five runs in the fourth, beginning with
Teixeira’s solo homer on an 0-1 pitch. It was his 37th, third-most in the
league. It also was his fifth off Hernandez, more than any other batter.

Cano, who had three hits, doubled into the right-field corner and Swisher
singled, with Cano stopping at third. Eric Chavez(notes) followed with a sacrifice fly.

Brett Gardner(notes) sliced a double into the left-field corner, scoring Swisher.
Dickerson then hit the first pitch for his first home run as a Yankee and a 6-1
lead.

“The last live pitching I’ve seen was two weeks ago,” said Dickerson,
recalled from the minors on Sept. 1. “Especially with him on the mound, you
have to jump on fastballs.”

Hernandez worked six innings, giving up nine hits and six runs—one fewer
than his season high. He struck out four with no walks.

With the one-sided victory, Yankees closer Mariano Rivera(notes) didn’t need to
leave the bullpen for a chance at his 600th save.

Phil Hughes(notes) (5-5) pitched six strong innings to help New York increase its
AL East lead to a season-high four games over idle Boston with 16 to play.

“You never expect to score a lot of runs off him. You expect a dogfight,”
Hughes said. “Fortunately, he wasn’t on tonight and those early runs were nice
to work with.”

Hughes, who had not won since Aug. 19, allowed one run and five hits. He
walked three and struck out three. The right-hander missed more than half the
season with shoulder inflammation and is trying to re-establish himself as a
reliable member of the Yankees’ rotation.

“I can’t change what’s already happened,” he said, “but from this point
on I’d love to have a job here when October rolls around.”

His most difficult inning was the sixth, his final one. With the Yankees
leading 6-1, Kyle Seager(notes) opened with a double and Dustin Ackley(notes) reached on an
infield single. Mike Carp(notes) then lined out to Derek Jeter(notes) at shortstop, but Justin
Smoak(notes) walked to load the bases.

Hughes got Miguel Olivo(notes) to pop out softly to shortstop and Trayvon Robinson(notes)
lined out to center.

“That was a huge situation,” said catcher Austin Romine(notes), who made his
first big league start and got his first career hit, a single in the seventh.
“He really dug deep right there. Larry (pitching coach Larry Rothschild) told
him, ‘It’s your game. Let’s go get ‘em.’ That fired him up.”

Yankees manager Joe Girardi added: “That was really big. You don’t want to
give them any life. He (Hernandez) might go back out there if it’s 6-3, 6-4.”

Dan Cortes(notes) took over for Hernandez in the seventh and the Yankees worked him
over. Romine got his first hit and Jeter followed with his 3,074th, a single
that extended his hitting streak to 11 games. Curtis Granderson(notes) singled to load
the bases, easing out from a 1-for-19 slide.

Teixeira struck out and then Cano, fouling off five fastballs after a 3-1
count, cleared the bases with a double to left. He’s a .471 hitter with 27 RBIs
this season with the bases loaded. Six of his eight hits have been for extra
bases.

Olivo had a two-run homer, his 18th, in the eighth off Scott Proctor(notes).

NOTES: Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez(notes), who has lingering soreness in his left
thumb, already has missed three straight games and might not play again until
Friday. Rodriguez said his timing is fine at the plate and he was making contact
during batting practice. But he said he had “no authority.” Girardi said
Rodriguez might return to the lineup this weekend in Toronto. “We’ve got to get
him healthy to be productive,” Girardi said. … The Yankees lead the majors
with 205 home runs. They have 48 in their last 28 games. … Roger Hansen, 50,
who has had various roles in his 18 years with the Mariners, was named special
assistant to the general manager. … The Yankees will send RHP A.J. Burnett(notes)
(9-11, 5.27 ERA) to the mound Tuesday. He is one win short of his seventh
straight double-digit win season and eighth overall. He is 2-2 with a 3.80 ERA
in seven career starts against Seattle. … The Mariners will counter with LHP
Charlie Furbush(notes) (3-8, 4.84), acquired in a July 30 trade with Detroit. He worked
a career-high 7 1-3 innings in his last start Sept. 7 against the Angels, a 3-1
loss. He has never faced the Yankees.

“I think we’ve got a great team. The credit goes to us, man,” said Nick Swisher, who had one of New York’s 14 hits. “He’s a great pitcher and we put up some good at-bats off him. You don’t see that very often. You have to give credit where credit is due. Our guys did a great job tonight.”

Hernandez (14-12), last year’s AL Cy Young Award winner, entered with an exemplary history against the Yankees. Over his previous six starts against New York dating to Sept. 18, 2009, Hernandez was 5-0 with a 1.29 ERA, the longest winning streak by a Mariners pitcher against the Yankees.

Overall, he was 6-3 with a 2.82 ERA in 10 career starts against New York.

“They’ve got a pretty good lineup,” Hernandez said. “You have to respect that and make good pitches. In that (fourth) inning, I just made a couple mistakes and got hit.”

The Yankees roughed up Hernandez for five runs in the fourth, beginning with Teixeira’s solo homer on an 0-1 pitch. It was his 37th, third-most in the league. It also was his fifth off Hernandez, more than any other batter.

Cano, who had three hits, doubled into the right-field corner and Swisher singled, with Cano stopping at third. Eric Chavez followed with a sacrifice fly.

Brett Gardner sliced a double into the left-field corner, scoring Swisher. Dickerson then hit the first pitch for his first home run as a Yankee and a 6-1 lead.

“The last live pitching I’ve seen was two weeks ago,” said Dickerson, recalled from the minors on Sept. 1. “Especially with him on the mound, you have to jump on fastballs.”

Hernandez worked six innings, giving up nine hits and six runs — one fewer than his season high. He struck out four with no walks.

With the one-sided victory, Yankees closer Mariano Rivera didn’t need to leave the bullpen for a chance at his 600th save.

Phil Hughes (5-5) pitched six strong innings to help New York increase its AL East lead to a season-high four games over idle Boston with 16 to play.

“You never expect to score a lot of runs off him. You expect a dogfight,” Hughes said. “Fortunately, he wasn’t on tonight and those early runs were nice to work with.”

Hughes, who had not won since Aug. 19, allowed one run and five hits. He walked three and struck out three. The right-hander missed more than half the season with shoulder inflammation and is trying to re-establish himself as a reliable member of the Yankees’ rotation.

“I can’t change what’s already happened,” he said, “but from this point on I’d love to have a job here when October rolls around.”

His most difficult inning was the sixth, his final one. With the Yankees leading 6-1, Kyle Seager opened with a double and Dustin Ackley reached on an infield single. Mike Carp then lined out to Derek Jeter at shortstop, but Justin Smoak walked to load the bases.

Read More: Trevor Hoffman (P – MIL), Curtis Granderson (CF – NYY), Alex Rodriguez (3B – NYY), Mariano Rivera (P – NYY), Ervin Santana (P – ANA), Bobby Wilson (C – ANA), Peter Bourjos (CF – ANA), New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels, New York Yankees at Los Angeles Angels, Sep 11, 2011 12:35 PM PDT

Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) – Peter Bourjos’ error on a Mark Teixeira fly in the seventh inning led to the deciding runs, as the New York Yankees avoided a sweep by taking a 6-5 decision over the Angels in the finale of a three-game series.

Brett Gardner and Derek Jeter singled to start the frame against Ervin Santana (11-11), then Scott Downs came on in relief. He fanned Curtis Granderson, but the Halos center fielder failed to catch Teixeira’s hit, and both men scored to turn a 5-4 deficit into a 6-5 lead.

Cory Wade (5-0) pitched a perfect sixth inning for the win. Mariano Rivera turned in a scoreless ninth to earn his 40th save of the year and his 599th career save.

Granderson slugged a two-run homer, Robinson Cano added a solo shot and Eric Chavez notched an RBI single for the Yankees, who put an end to their four-game slide.

New York opened up a 3 1/2 game lead over Boston in the AL East, with the Red Sox losing in Tampa earlier Sunday.

Freddy Garcia allowed seven hits and five runs with three walks and as many strikeouts in his five-inning outing.

Howie Kendrick and Bourjos each contributed a two-run homer for the Angels, whose three-game win streak was snapped. Los Angeles fell 2 1/2 games back of AL West-leading Texas after the Rangers topped Oakland.

Santana ultimately lasted six-plus frames, charged with eight hits and six runs, fanning eight but walking four.

Erick Aybar led off the first with a single and Kendrick followed with a two- run shot.

Chavez put New York on the board with a second-inning RBI single, then the Halos took a 3-1 edge in the home third when Garcia uncorked a wild pitch with two men in scoring position to plate Bobby Wilson.

Cano’s one-out solo homer made it a one-run contest in the fourth, but Alberto Callaspo walked with one down and Bourjos launched a two-run shot to make it 5-2.

Jeter began the fifth with a single and Granderson pulled the Yanks within 5-4 when he followed with a two-run blast. The Angels had the bases loaded with one out in the home half but failed to extend their edge when Trumbo popped out and Callaspo grounded out.

LA also failed to score with runners on second and third in the home seventh.

Aybar singled with one out in the ninth, but Kendrick grounded into a game- ending double play.

Game Notes

The Yankees took five of nine from the Angels this season, and improved to 42-30 on the road overall…Rivera has notched eight seasons of at least 40 saves, and accomplished the feat for the second time in three years…The 41- year-old Panamanian reliever sits just two away from Trevor Hoffman’s all-time saves mark…Granderson hit his 39th homer of the season, moving him one away from becoming the first Yankee to hit at least 40 in one season since Alex Rodriguez hit 54 in 2007…Aybar ended with four hits in a losing cause.

For more Angels news and information, be sure to read Halos Heaven.