Red Sox Features On wbztv.com
Jan 6, 2009 2:53 pm US/Eastern
Teixeira Says He Wanted To Be A Yankee
NEW YORK (WBZ) ―
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Mark Teixeira met reporters at Yankee Stadium Tuesday.
CBS
Mark Teixeira and the New York Yankees have completed their $180 million, eight-year contract.
The deal was agreed to Dec. 23, but both sides had to settle contract language and the first baseman had to pass a physical.
Teixeira told reporters in a news conference at Yankee Stadium he and his wife decided on New York - over Boston, the L.A. Angels, Baltimore, and Washington - about two weeks before Christmas.
Teixeira and his agent Scott Boras had their
infamous meeting in Texas with Red Sox owner John Henry, president Larry Lucchino and general manager Theo Epstein on Dec. 18 - about a week after Teixeira and his wife made their decision.
After that meeting Henry said "the Red Sox weren't going to be a factor" for Teixeira.
Teixeira also said Tuesday that his favorite player growing up was former Yankee first baseman Don Mattingly.
Teixeira will wear No. 25, Jason Giambi's old number. Teixeira had worn 23 with his previous teams in honor of Mattingly, whose number has been retired by the Yankees.
New York has committed $423.5 million on three free-agent additions during the offseason after its streak of 13 consecutive postseason appearances ended.
On Dec. 18, the Yankees completed a $161 million, seven-year contract with left-hander CC Sabathia and an $82.5 million, five-year deal with right-hander A.J. Burnett.
The Yankees hold baseball's four largest contracts.
Third baseman Alex Rodriguez has the sport's highest deal at $275 million over 10 years, and shortstop Derek Jeter is second at $189 million over 10 years.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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