Mark Teixeira has previously told reporters that he feels like he can play until he’s 40 years old, and the 35-year-old Yankees first baseman doubled down on those comments following last night’s win over the Astros, as MLB.com’s Barry M. Bloom writes. Teixeira said last night that he hopes to play for five to six more seasons beyond the 2016 campaign, adding that he would love to remain in Yankee pinstripes for the remainder of his playing days. “I’ve loved playing here,” said Teixeira. “I’ve loved every minute of it. … I mean, once you’ve played for the Yankees you’ve reached the pinnacle of Major League Baseball. It’s just tough to see myself in another uniform.” Of course, the Yankees’ roster, as currently constructed, could complicate that possibility. Alex Rodriguez is a strict DH now and is signed through 2017, while the Yanks have a highly promising young first base option in the form of Gregory Bird. While Bird will miss the 2016 campaign due to shoulder surgery and could therefore be rusty heading into next season, he looked plenty comfortable against MLB pitching in his 2015 debut after impressing at the Triple-A level as well.
More from the American League…
- Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre told reporters, including Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, that he is still waiting on a contract proposal from the Rangers following yesterday’s loss to the Angels. Grant writes that the Rangers’ hesitation, unsurprisingly, is likely due to Beltre’s age. The three-year deal he seeks would cost Texas something in the vicinity of $60MM, and the Rangers must weigh whether that type of investment in Beltre’s age-38 through age-40 seasons is a better course of action than trusting a high-upside but unproven prospect, Joey Gallo, to man the position while making scarcely more than $1.5MM (total) in his pre-arbitration seasons over that same time frame.
- Angels left-hander Andrew Heaney was relieved after receiving encouraging news following an MRI, writes the Orange County Register’s Jeff Fletcher. “I saw the MRI for myself,” Heaney explained. “Obviously I’m not a doctor, but the way they explained it to me, it looked perfectly sound and healthy,” he added in reference to his ulnar collateral ligament. The words “forearm tightness” have become increasingly frightening in recent years, as that can often be a precursor to Tommy John surgery, but the MRI makes two waves of evaluations that seem to indicate a healthy UCL for Heaney. In his absence, the Halos will turn to Nick Tropeano to step into the rotation, though as Fletcher notes, Tropeano didn’t exceed four innings in an appearance in Spring Training. With Tropeano and Jered Weaver both limited in terms of endurance at this time, there could be some extra stress placed on the ’pen.
- Former big league right-hander Jeremy Sowers is beginning to carve out a career on the baseball operations side of the game as a member of the Rays organization, writes Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Sowers’ final big league game came in 2009, and since that time he received an MBA from North Carolina. After briefly working in the corporate world, Sowers took a 2015 internship with the Rays, who eventually hired him as a Major League operations assistant. Sowers is working with the Rays’ advance scouting process, and he’s also an integral part of the club’s instant replay process as well as the “information flow with [the Rays’] players and coaches,” per president Matt Silverman.
Please correct me if I’m wrong here, but shouldn’t that say the MRI was negative – meaning no injury?
If Tex wants to remain a Yankee the rest of his career, there are two things he probably needs to do:
1. Realize he is not going to be paid $23M a year and,
2. Get back to playing 150 games like when he became a Yankee and not 123, his fullest seasons the last 5 years.
But honestly do not see it happening. The new Steinbrenner ownership likes to pocket cash and Bird, McCann, Ellsbury, or Headley will be able to cover first and DH while still under contract.
Although after making about $200mm in his career to date I am sure Tex would be ok with a paycut to stay a Yankee, you nailed it by mentioning the other solid options that the Yankees have to cover 1st and DH. I would add Judge and Sanchez to the DH mix as well.
True point on the career earnings. Yeah I left those two out, my thinking was one of those others mentioned displaced from C for Sanchez or OF for Ellsbury, therefore forcing them to 1B or DH. Sorry that wasn’t clearly stated better.
I’m confused how you can say that the ownership of the second highest payroll team in 2016 likes to pocket cash.
Because ownership has stated they want to attempt to get away from big ticket FAs, develop, and use their own talent. Bird, Mateo, Judge, and Sanchez when placed into the lineup to replace their respective incumbents, drop payroll roughly $70 million. After 2017, they clear 4 out of their top 7 salaries. If the drop money on Cespedes and Harper, I will eat my words.
There’s a difference. Harper is the type of player you DO drop big money on. I could even see Strasburg as a Yankee next year. They want to move away from giving 5 years and 9 figure deals to guys 30 years old. At the end of the day, the Yankees want to win, no matter what they say. They’ll spend the money that smartly helps them win, hence the winter splurges on Tanaka, Ellsbury, McCann, Headley, and Miller over the past few seasons. Expect them to resign Chapman eventually as well. At the end of the day, they’ll still be the Yankees, and they’ll still have that financial muscle to flex on the top players on that years market if they so please. Just don’t expect that to be their only source of talent income now.
The Yankees need to do both–develop younger talent and spend money. Five year deals for players who will be in their late 30’s-40 are just not smart investment. Look at Albert–would you want that contract?
I find it funny how everyone keeps pointing out Alberts contract. Hes played well over the course of it for the angels so far. He also showed last year that hes not even close to done by hitting 40 homeruns.
I agree Mark. Still averaging just under 30 HRs a season. Not sure exactly what fans expect out of a mid 30s power hitter, NOT on steroids. Has he 100% lived up to his contract? No, but LAA has many of those, outside of Trout.
Playing well and justifying one of the most expensive contracts in the league are two different things.
I like how this article is about teixeira and a handful of other players and a small bit was about A-rod so they had to put his picture in it.
Teixeira is still solid, but the yankees need youth and athleticism. He would have to transition to a much lower paid, lower profile role than he might be able to get on the open market on, say a two year contract,
Please yanks resign Tex!
I wonder if the Braves would be interested in signing Beltre to provide leadership and hold down the fort until Riley is ready kinda like how Pendleton did until Chipper got there. They will have the money if they have to overpay dome in order to get him there. I believe his leadership qualities for the youngsters around that infield would far exceed a dollar amount. I hope the Rangers let him walk and the Braves snatch him up gor 2 yrs with an option and if that don’t do it go for the 3rd year.
I don’t think Teix will take the pay cut tbe Yankees would want him to take..nor would they want to sign a guy who has been as prone to injury to a 5 yr deal extending past 40 yo….
Lineup of
1. Mallex CF
2. Swanson SS
3. Freeman 1B
4. Beltre 3B
5. Markakis RF
6. Olivera / Inciarte LF
7. Cervelli C
8. Albies SS
Starters
1. Teahran
2. Peavy
3. Wisler
4. Blair
5. Jenkins
Bullpen
Vizcaino RH
Simmons RH
Withrow RH
Winkler RH
Gant RH
ManBan LH
Paco LH
BENCH
Flowers C
Moore 1B
Jace SS/2B/3B
Inciarte/ Olivera OF
Stubbs OF
That’s what I want the Braves to look like in 2017 for the opening of the new ballpark.
They’re definitely gonna need to pick up a few big named bullpen guys too if they want to be contenders. That bullpen won’t get it done
Sowers was a lefty