New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira is reportedly expected to announce today that he will retire after this season. The 36-year-old is in the final year of an eight-year contract and is in his 14th MLB season. His best year came in 2009 with the Yankees, when he hit .292 with 39 home runs and 122 RBIs, and finished second in the AL MVP voting.
The news conference has been set up for 3 p.m. EST. by the Yankees for the Teixeira announcement. The current deal he is on is worth $180 million, which he signed as a free agent in December of 2008. He has struggled this season, batting just .198 with 10 home runs and 27 RBIs in 77 games.
The three-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove winner claimed that his body felt good in Spring Training, and wanted to play "five more years." The injuries ended that thought as the regular season kicked off, including a June DL stint with a right knee cartilage tear. He now gets repeated off days since his return.
Injuries have been a major part of his downfall in New York, as he has not played 123 games in a single season since 2011. He was limited to 15 games in 2013 after tearing the tendon sheath in his right hand. The first baseman hit .151 that year, and returned to hit .216 with 22 home runs and 62 RBIs the next.
Teixeira returned to the All-Star Game in 2015, but that season was cut short in August due to a fractured shin. He had 31 home runs and 79 RBIs that season before the injury.
The switch-hitting slugger has had stints with the Texas Rangers, who drafted him, as well as the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels. He is a career .269 hitter with 404 home runs and 1,281 RBIs. He is one of five switch-hitters to hit 400 home runs, and one of nine players to finish with that many big flies, along with five Gold Gloves. Those numbers may have Teixeira in the Hall of Fame sooner rather than later.
The news conference has been set up for 3 p.m. EST. by the Yankees for the Teixeira announcement. The current deal he is on is worth $180 million, which he signed as a free agent in December of 2008. He has struggled this season, batting just .198 with 10 home runs and 27 RBIs in 77 games.
The three-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove winner claimed that his body felt good in Spring Training, and wanted to play "five more years." The injuries ended that thought as the regular season kicked off, including a June DL stint with a right knee cartilage tear. He now gets repeated off days since his return.
Injuries have been a major part of his downfall in New York, as he has not played 123 games in a single season since 2011. He was limited to 15 games in 2013 after tearing the tendon sheath in his right hand. The first baseman hit .151 that year, and returned to hit .216 with 22 home runs and 62 RBIs the next.
Teixeira returned to the All-Star Game in 2015, but that season was cut short in August due to a fractured shin. He had 31 home runs and 79 RBIs that season before the injury.
The switch-hitting slugger has had stints with the Texas Rangers, who drafted him, as well as the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels. He is a career .269 hitter with 404 home runs and 1,281 RBIs. He is one of five switch-hitters to hit 400 home runs, and one of nine players to finish with that many big flies, along with five Gold Gloves. Those numbers may have Teixeira in the Hall of Fame sooner rather than later.
