Yankees' Mark Teixeira expected to announce retirement on Friday
This is some big news for a Friday morning. According to Buster Olney, longtime New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira will announce his retirement, starting at the end of the 2016 season, and he’ll do it at a press conference at 3 p.m. ET on Friday.
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
Tex will play out the rest of the 2016 season and then hang up his bat, glove, and cleats at age 36.
Teixeira has been in the majors for 14 seasons, and he’s played for four teams: the Texas Rangers (who drafted him with the fifth overall pick in 2001), the Atlanta Braves, the Los Angeles Angels, and finally the New York Yankees. He spent parts of two years with both the Braves and the Angels, five years with the Rangers, and eight with the Yankees. His career with the Yankees started in 2009 after he signed an eight-year, $180 million contract. (The same year they won the World Series.) His 2009 season was fantastic, and he ended it with a .292/.383/.565 triple slash and 39 home runs, which tied for the AL lead.
After that stellar season, Teixeira was never able to reach those numbers again. The 2012 season kicked off three years of almost constant injury issues, ranging from a cough to hamstring problems to a wrist that had to be surgically repaired. His numbers rebounded a bit in 2015, but his season was cut short due to a shin fracture.
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The current season hasn’t been great for Tex. He’s batting just .198/.287/.340, and with his injury history and the Yankees officially entering rebuilding mode, the team’s future doesn’t have a lot of room for him. But hopefully 2016 isn’t what Tex will be remembered for. He’s had a good career with some fantastic moments. (Whether that includes Teixeira’s response to the sign stealing accusation from the Subway Series earlier in the week is up to you.) He’s always been an above average first baseman, earning five Gold Gloves, and as of now his career triple slash is .269/.361/.511, with 404 home runs. After 14 years, that’s something to be proud of.
As for what Mark Teixeira will do after his playing days are over, he may let us know at his press conference. Hopefully his future will include more episodes of Foul Territory.
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Liz Roscher is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at [email protected] or follow her on twitter! Follow @lizroscher
