The Yankees Strike Again- Agree to deal with Mark Teixeira

The Yankees agree to terms with Mark Teixeira on an 8 year deal worth $180 million.

Can we just write off the World Series now? As if CC Sabathia and A.J Burnett weren’t enough, the empire that is the New York Yankees just struck again. In a surprise move that sent shock waves through the Baseball world, the Yankees pounced on Boston’s bluff Tuesday afternoon and agreed to a deal with free agent first baseman Mark Teixeira. If CC and A.J were shock, this is awe. After a string of 13 straight post-season appearances came to end last October, the recession proof Yankees, equipped with new stadium revenue and about $88 million coming off the payroll were ready to make a splash in free agency. The Yankees had a couple of major weaknesses last year, and they took care of them like only they can. They revamped a starting rotation that was either aging and/or ineffective. The other glaring need was to fill the gaping hole in the line-up to protect Alex Rodriguez. A first baseman with a decent glove and a little reaction would also help. As of Tuesday morning, the starting first baseman for the New York Yankees was Nick Swisher. That changed quickly. No disrespect to Mr. Swisher, but he’s no Teixeira. Throughout the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes, the front runners were the Red Sox, the Angels, and Teixeira’s hometown Orioles and Nationals. The Yankees denied involvement. In reality, they were just waiting. They lurked in the shadows, waiting to pounce. They were the 700 pound gorilla in the room while negotiations with agent Scott Boras were taking place. The Teixeira negotiations were a game of World class poker as it usually is with a Boras client. The Angels dropped out of the race over the weekend after realizing they had been beat and couldn’t go higher than their initial offer of 8yr/$160mil, although they had already given up some quality players such as Casey Kotchman in acquiring him for essentially a three month rental. Scott Boras raised the stakes during negotiations with Red Sox management John Henry, and Theo Epstein by declaring he had a mystery offer from a mystery team that surpasses the one made by Boston. Red Sox management, in belief that Boras was trying to play them for a bigger deal decided to re-raise him when they announced last week they would no longer be in the running for Teixeira after their offer had been beat. That was exactly the opportunity the Bombers were waiting for, and they jumped on it, snagging gold glove and switch-hitting, 28-year-old first baseman Mark Teixeira for an 8 yr deal worth $180 million. The deal was only a couple million dollars more than what the Sox had offered. The Yankees virtually stole him from right under their noses and filled their needs at first base and protection for A-Rod, while also denying them protection for David Ortiz, who hasn’t been the same player without having Manny, one the greatest hitters in the history of the game batting behind him. I think we can all make a safe bet on who the second most hated player in Fenway will be this year. I would have said most hated, but that spot is reserved for a certain Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez. The Yankees gave Teixeira the 4th richest contract in MLB history behind his new teammates Alex Rodriguez (10/252, 10/275) and Derek Jeter (10 yr/189). Sure, the money is huge on top of the $243.5 million already committed to free agency this year, but the Yankees had money to spend with pitchers Mike Mussina, Andy Petttite, and Carl Pavano coming off the books for a combined $38 million. The now ex-Yankee first baseman Jason Giambi made $21 million. And let’s face it. At this point of his career, he is nowhere near the offensive force Mark Teixeira is, nor the black hole at first. The Yankees took that money and got A.J. Burnett, CC Sabathia, and Teixeira. Who wouldn’t make that trade? Believe it or not, the Yankee payroll is lower than what it was last year with players such as Bobby Abreu($16 mil) also expiring. The Yankees are trimming pay roll. Figure that. Ok, all jokes aside, the payroll is lower than last year. Yes, the Yankees just committed almost half a billion dollars on 3 players, but it was money spent well in sense that it was used on stars in their prime, rather aging shells of their former selves. The Mark Teixeira signing fills a huge void for the Yankees. It gives them a gold glove first baseman that will give them an average around .300, while hitting 35 home runs and driving in 120. Don’t expect him to hit 43 home runs again like he did in 2005, but expect him to be in the 35 homerun range, while hitting more doubles, and hitting for a higher average as he matures as a hitter. More importantly, he’s the best player they’ve had playing behind Alex since Gary Sheffield. It should take some pressure off him. It’s exactly what they needed. Teix performs his best in the second half of the season and down the stretch, something that has haunted A-Rod during his five years here. The whole line-up will benefit from the balance. Look for Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon to once again score 120 runs, and while it’s hard to repeat the season Alex had in 2007, look for him to return back to form. It’s hard to believe the last time the Yankees won it all was in 2000, when Bernie Williams tracked down Mike Piazza’s drive off Mo in the bottom of the 9th in Shea. A lot has changed since then. Those players certainly aren’t around anymore, neither are those Stadiums. It’s been eight long years in the Bronx. It certainly hasn’t been a time of transition for the Bombers as they’ve spent a couple of billion dollars in pay roll and luxury tax over the time. On paper, they’ve been the favorites a few times. They made it to the show a couple of times, coming up short in 2001 and again in 2003. It has been first round exits since then as the pay roll has sky rocketed, and the pressure built. That’s why World Series aren’t won on paper, and you can’t write this off just yet. Now, the Yankees make one more trip to the bank, and sign bona fide ace CC Sabathia, the Robin to his Batman in A.J Burnett, and Mark Teixeira, one of the best all around players the Yankees have had in years. Here’s hoping that this time, that trip to the bank results in a trip to the World Series, and a stroll down Broadway, in the Canyon of Heroes.

Add to: del.icio.us Digg Technorati