TAMPA – If Mariano Rivera’s words yesterday sounded familiar to Yankee officials, it’s because they had hoped to deliver them to their closer had he not beaten them at the arbitration table.

A five-hour hearing Wednesday led to a decision Thursday in which Rivera was awarded $4.25 million. The Yankees filed at $3 million. It was the second time in four days the Bombers were bested in the arbitration process: Derek Jeter spanked them for $5 million earlier.

“I had never been in that situation before, it was good to be there and find out all about the business,” said Rivera, who saved 36 games a year ago when he was paid $750,000. “It’s all about business. We went there, tried our best and we won. There is nothing against the Yankees.”

When Rivera saw George Steinbrenner in the hallway outside the Legends Field clubhouse, he broke into a grin and said, “Hi, George.”

Steinbrenner asked Rivera how he was doing and Rivera answered, “Outstanding.”

As for the chances of Rivera receiving a long-term contract, he wasn’t sure. But, like Jeter, Rivera doesn’t want to be bothered by negotiations after Opening Day.

“I don’t know what they feel about that,” Rivera said. “Once the season starts I just want to concentrate on baseball.”

*Joe Torre won’t sweat it if he doesn’t come up with a second lefty reliever to replace Graeme Lloyd.

“It felt nice to have a second left-hander but it was a luxury,” Torre said.

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With Homer Bush gone, Torre is looking for a sixth infielder.

“I don’t know yet, I was watching Willie Randolph take throws at second base today,” Torre quipped. “We need somebody, like a Dale Sveum type person who will be here. It may turn out to be him. We got the guy to cover the middle and that’s (Louis) Sojo.”

Sveum, who signed a two-year contract worth $1.6 million prior to last season, was released last Aug. 3 after hitting .155. He wll be in camp as a non-roster player.

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Former Yankee great Ron Guidry is in camp to help work with the pitchers.