Teixeira to retire at season's end, report says

Teixeira to retire at season's end, report says



NEW YORK — Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira is expected to announce his plan to retire at season's end, according to a report from ESPN's Buster Olney.

Mark Teixeira expected to announce his retirement later today, at 36, effective at the end of the season.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) August 5, 2016
Teixeira has dealt with a series of injuries over recent years and is in the final year of his eight-year, $180-million deal.

""Let's be honest: I don't need any more money," Teixeira said in early July.

The 36-year-old has recently been reluctant to discuss his future, saying often that he's not thinking about next year.

His reported retirement plans might have been why.

Teixeira is also on a Yankees team that seems to be leaving him behind.

For the first time in decades, the team declared itself sellers at the trade deadline, jettisoning its two top relievers — Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller — and right fielder Carlos Beltran for prospects that won't be ready to make an impact in the majors perhaps before Teixeira's playing days are over.

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Teixeira has had the worst season of his career in 2016. While his defense has been typically strong, he's hit .198 with 10 homers and 27 RBI in 77 games.

The rough campaign came just a year after he hit 31 homers, drove in 79 runs and hit .255. That season ended when he fouled a pitch off his right shin and fractured it in August.

This year, Teixeira suffered a tear in the cartilage in his right knee that has reduced him to something a bit more than a part-time player.

On Wednesday, Mets pitcher Steven Matz appeared to intentionally hit Teixeira with a fastball on the left shin. Swelling from the injury held him out of Thursday's game. He was scheduled to get an X-ray on Thursday night.

Teixeira, a three-time All-Star, has 404 career home runs, 1,281 RBI and a .269 career batting average. He helped the Yankees to a 2009 World Series victory.