New York Yankees: Mark Teixeira to Retire at End of 2016
The New York Yankees will host a press conference at 3:00 PM EST for 36-year-old Mark Teixeira to announce his retirement from baseball.
The news was first reported by ESPN’s Buster Olney via Twitter.
Over the course of his 14-year career, Mark Teixeira has amassed 404 home runs and 1,281 RBI. He’s also appeared in three All-Star Games and earned a total of five Gold Glove awards while manning first base.
He is also just one of nine players in baseball history to eclipse the 400 home run mark while earning five Gold Gloves and just the fifth switch-hitter in baseball history to tally over 400 homers.
Despite his dreadful .198/.287/.340 slash line in 2016, the injury-plagued veteran has given the Yankees eight strong years in pinstripes. Not only was he a pinnacle piece to their World Series team in 2009, but his veteran leadership and sportsmanship has paved the way for many of the future Yankees to succeed, including their first baseman of tomorrow – Greg Bird.
Following the conclusion of his eight-year, $180 million deal signed back in 2009, the veteran was set to become a free agent at the end of this season alongside teammate Carlos Beltran, who was dealt to the Texas Rangers just hours before the trade deadline earlier this week.
What is his defining moment as a Yankee?
Aside from the countless wonderful diving catches that robbed opponents of doubles down the first base line, the one moment that most sticks out in the back of my mind was his walk-off, game-winning home run in the 11th inning of Game 2 in the 2009 American League Division Series against the Minnesota Twins.
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When Teixeira leaves at the end of the season, only three Yankees will remain from the 2009 World Series winning team – Brett Gardner, CC Sabathia and Alex Rodriguez.
Derek Jeter‘s retirement in 2014 officially put a cap on the “Core Four” dynasty, but the end of another Yankees era seems to be upon us as well.