On December 19, 2008, Rivera signed a three year contract to return to the Angels. The deal is believed to be worth $12.75 million dollars. In 2008, Rivera appeared in 89 games and hit .246 with 12 homeruns.MLB.com: Rivera agrees to return to Angels (December 19, 2008)

On September 4, 2001, Rivera was called up to make his MLB debut with the Yankees. He played three games in the majors that season, failing to earn a single hit in four attempts at bat. Rivera split his next two seasons between the Yankees and the minors, playing 28 games in 2002 and 57 games in 2003. Rivera also joined the Yankees in the World Series in 2003, which they lost to the Florida Marlins.

Rivera was traded on December 16, 2003 to the Montreal Expos. He played a career high 134 games in 2004 with the Expos and finished with a career high .364 on base percentage.

On November 19, 2004, Rivera was traded to the then named Anaheim Angels. He played over 100 games each of the next two seasons with the Angels in 2005 and 2006. Rivera however missed the majority of the 2007 season after he broke his left leg during the off season, joining the Angels for only 14 games that year.