On April 22, 1997, the Yankees traded Rivera with pitcher Rafael Medina and US $3 million to the San Diego Padres for infielder Homer Bush and minor leaguer Gordon Amerson and two players to be named later, who turned out to be the highly anticipated Japanese pitcher Hideki Irabu and minor leaguer Vernon Maxwell.

It was supposed to be a deal to help both teams, but Irabu was a major disappointment for the Yankees, and Rivera turned out to be at least a minor disappointment for the Padres, as he was never able to get on base on a regular basis during his four seasons in the Padres organization, mostly with the parent team (including as a starter in 2000 and 2001), and his considerable power did not sufficiently compensate for that major failing.

Early in 2002, the Yankees signed him as a free agent, but released him during spring training after Rivera stole teammate Derek Jeter's glove and bat, and then sold them to a sports memorabilia dealer, reportedly for $2,500.

Representing the potential winning run as a pinch runner for Andrés Galarraga at first base with a 2–2 score and one out in the ninth, Rivera advanced to second base but reversed course two steps beyond it thinking that the ball hit by Marquis Grissom to deep right-center field was caught by right fielder David Dellucci.

Realizing that Dellucci had muffed the ball for an error, he ran past second base, returned to retouch it, headed to third and attempted to score when second baseman Junior Spivey's relay throw bounced off third baseman Alex Cintrón's glove and towards shortstop Tony Womack, who threw out the sliding Rivera at home plate.

[8] Rivera signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles one month later on July 3, 2003, and played with the Bowie Baysox.

[9] The Chicago White Sox signed Rivera to play for the Triple-A Charlotte Knights for 2006, where despite hitting 16 home runs, he batted only .239.