Buster Olney of ESPN has reported that New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira plans to announce his retirement from baseball at the conclusion of the season. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported that the Yankees plan to hold a news conference with Mark Teixeira today at 3 p.m. EDT.
#Yankees announce press conference today at 3 p.m. with Mark Teixeira. No indication as to reason.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 5, 2016
Mark Teixeira expected to announce his retirement later today, at 36, effective at the end of the season.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) August 5, 2016
Yankees Mark Teixeira to Announce Retirement
Teixeira, 36, is playing in the final year of an eight-year, $180 million contract. In many ways, the size of the contract the Yankees gave Teixeira was well worth it. Teixeira played an integral part in helping bring the Yankees their 27th World Series Title in 2009. The switch-hitter led the American League in home runs (39) and RBI (122) during the 2009 season, which helped propel the Yankees to the World Series. He finished second in the MVP voting that year. However, since that championship season, Teixeira’s play has been on a steady decline.
Teixeira is a three-time All-Star, and only the fifth switch-hitter in Major League history with at least 400 career home runs. Yet, this season has seen the ailing ball player battle knee and neck injuries, which have limited the first baseman to only seventy-seven games.
In fact, Teixeira has battled numerous injuries for the last several years, and hasn’t played in more than 123 games in any of the last five seasons. During the 2013 season, Teixeira missed all but fifteen games due to a nagging wrist injury. However, Teixeira had a bounce back season in 2015 and made his third and final All-Star appearance. Unfortunately for Teixeira and the Yankees, a foul ball off his shin broke a bone and ended his season in September.
Teixeira is experiencing one of the worst seasons of his career, and is mired in a season-long slump. Teixeira is batting .197 with just ten home runs, twenty-seven RBI, and an OPS of only .627 in seventy-seven games.
Prior to today’s announcement, the Yankees have begun to shift towards a youth movement in hopes of rebuilding their once proud franchise. The Yankees began by trading away several of their high value targets, and were reportedly considering releasing both Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez. With Teixeira about to announce his retirement, the question now is what to do with the 41-year-old Rodriguez.
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