NEW YORK -- Mariano Rivera wants to pitch for three more years, with his final season coming in the new Yankee Stadium. And he hopes that Alex Rodriguez is with him for all three of those seasons.

Rivera, who spoke with reporters on Thursday at his new restaurant, Mo's New York Grill, said that blaming A-Rod for the Yankees' early postseason exit is simply unfair.

"This guy, he's a great player. We're a better team with him; I hear people say we should trade him and I don't agree," Rivera said. "I don't think we lost because of Alex. We lost, period. The fans, everybody, they should be with him."

Rivera, whose contract expires after the 2007 season, wants to sign a contract extension that will allow him to play two more seasons. Although the Yankees don't typically sign players to extensions before their contracts are up, Rivera is one of the few players that New York hasn't allowed to reach free agency.

"I want to talk to them about another contract; maybe two more years," Rivera said. "Hopefully we can do it soon, maybe before the season."

In March 2004, Rivera had one year remaining on his deal when he signed a two-year extension with an incentive-based option for 2007. He is in the same position now, and it's hard to believe that the Yankees will let their closer finish his career in another uniform.

General manager Brian Cashman did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Rivera, who missed three weeks in September because of a strained muscle in his forearm, had his arm checked after the season, but no damage was found.

"I'm fine," Rivera said. "They took some pictures of my elbow and it's good."

Moose call: The Yankees have until Nov. 15 to make a decision on Mike Mussina's $17 million option, though the likely scenario would have the two sides coming to terms on a new contract instead.

Mussina's agent, Arn Tellem, has already started talking with Cashman about a new contract for the pitcher, who is probably looking for a two-year deal worth $20-22 million.

"We've had positive talks," Tellem said in an e-mail. "We're making progress."

Mussina, who turns 38 in December, has said several times that he wants to return to New York. The right-hander went 92-53 in his first six years with the Yankees.

A good cause: To raise proceeds for the third annual Arizona Fall League Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award, MLB.com is auctioning off a photograph autographed by Alfonso Soriano from his Yankees days. Soriano will be inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame this year.

The bidding is already open, and it will run through Monday, Nov. 6. The winning bid will provide funds to be donated to a charity chosen by the winner of the Stenson Sportsmanship Award.

The award is named for Stenson, a 2003 player in the AFL who was tragically killed, and will be given to the AFL player who best exemplifies Stenson: a quiet, hard-nosed player who does his job without complaint and plays the game the way it's meant to be played.