Yankees' Rivera to have throat surgery By Sports Network

New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins in the ninth inning of their MLB American League baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York on Sept. 19, 2011. (REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton)

New York Yankees star closer Mariano Rivera will undergo surgery on Friday to remove polyps from his vocal cords.

Baseball's all-time saves leader will be unable to speak for a week following the procedure, which will take place at New York Presbyterian Hospital.

Rivera said he should begin to recover roughly a week after the surgery.

Rivera, who turned 42 on Tuesday, enjoyed another stellar season in 2011. He finished with 44 saves -- bringing his career total to 603 -- and compiled a 1.91 earned run average en route to eclipsing Trevor Hoffman for the all-time saves mark.

It was his fourth conescutive season with an ERA below 2.00 and a WHIP under 1.00.