The New York Yankees defeated the Houston Astros Thursday and captured the series thanks to Mark Teixeira's go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh inning. After the game, the slugger expressed his hopefulness to remain in New York after his contract expires.
Tex, 35, will become a free agent after the 2016 season. He's set to earn $23.125 million this year as he finishes up his eight-year, $180 million contract. With prospect Greg Bird right behind him (although he's out for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery), speculation suggests that the youngster will step in and fill Teixeira's shoes once he departs in free agency.
However, the veteran has different ideas.
He told reporters on Thursday that he intends to play for another five or six seasons, and he hopes that they all come with the Yankees.
"I've loved playing here. I've loved every minute of it," he said. "This is the whole package. The Yankees are the whole package. I mean, once you've played for the Yanks you've reached the pinnacle of Major League Baseball. It's just tough to see myself in another uniform."
He's off to a fast start in 2016, but any and all comments about him playing for another five years with the Yanks should be taken with a grain of salt, especially with the way general manager Brian Cashman is now building this team. New York probably wouldn't mind having Teixeira back after this season, but it'd have to be at the right price.
The soon-to-be 36-year-old has been a liability ever since the 2012 season. He played in just 372 games from 2012-2015 out of a potential total of 648 due to various injuries. While he still remains a Gold Glove first baseman and a formidable power hitter, he simply cannot be relied upon to stay healthy, and it'd be difficult for the Yankees to make another large investment in him. They're trying to purge such financial commitments as they move forward into a new era with their younger players.
Cashman had good things to say about Tex earlier this offseason, but it's hard to tell what direction the GM will go in after this year.
"If he stays healthy, he's one of the best players at his position in the game," Cashman said. "He was fantastic and he's entering his free-agent walk year, too, and I know he's hungry. I know he still wants to play. I don't want to say if it's three, four, five (or) six years."
If Tex can stay healthy throughout the duration of 2016, then he'll have a much better case in re-signing with the Yankees. However, if he goes down again and can't contribute, it's doubtful that New York will continue their relationship with a player who hasn't appeared in more than 123 games in a single season since 2011.
