Mark Teixeira said he will retire at season’s end during a news conference Friday afternoon at Yankee Stadium,
“After 14 years, it’s time for me to do something else,” Teixeira said. “And after this season, I’m going to retire and do something else.”
Teixeira was emotional from the very beginning of his news conference, which was attended by teammates and manager Joe Girardi.
“Teixeiras are criers, by the way,” he said.
The first baseman is in the final season of an eight-year, $180-million deal he signed with the Yankees after the 2008 season.
In his first season with the Yankees in 2009, Teixeira led the American League in both home runs (39) and RBIs (122) and a World Series victory.
“I got to live out my dream and had more success than I could ever imagine,” Teixeira said. “It felt like it was the right time for me to step away from the game.”
Teixiera, 36, is a career .269 hitter with 404 home runs and 400 doubles in 14 seasons with the Rangers, Braves, Angels and Yankees. He is a five-time Gold Glove winner.
..... - Newsday