With his career winding down, Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira took some time to sit down with Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports and reflect on his 14 seasons in the Majors. In an excellent Q&A, Teixeira discusses with Rosenthal the feeling of being traded on two different occasions, including an amusing story of a ruined cell phone on a fishing trip with former teammate David Dellucci that prevented him from learning about his trade to the Braves as quickly as he otherwise might have. The switch-hitting slugger candidly discussed his lone trip through free agency, stating that he “didn’t enjoy it at all” and also explaining how he very nearly signed with the division-rival Red Sox that winter before agreeing to terms with the Yankees. He also discusses the differences of being in a pennant race as an expected contributor and as a veteran role player. I’d highly recommend checking out Rosenthal’s piece, as it pulls back the curtain a bit on free agency and trades and also contains a number of interesting anecdotes from Teixeira.
Here’s more from the AL East…
- Rays right fielder Steven Souza Jr. is seeing a specialist in Nashville to have his hip evaluated today, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Souza has been playing through lingering discomfort in his left hip that has limited him in the weight room and other non-baseball activities. Souza describes the feeling as a pinching sensation that is stemming from an irregular bone growth in his hip. The possibility of surgery is on the table for the 27-year-old, who has batted .247/.303/.409 with 17 homers and six steals while playing above-average defense in spite of the hip troubles this year.
- Hanley Ramirez has redeemed himself in Boston after a dreadful first year with the Red Sox, and Alex Speier of the Boston Globe spoke to the slugger about his transformation at the plate. Ramirez feels that a shoulder injury sustained when crashing into the left field wall early last season hindered his ability to catch up with fastballs “a lot,” and Speier examines Ramirez’s complete rebound against heaters in 2016. Ramirez hit just .236 against fastballs last season, with only eight of his 19 homers coming against them. He didn’t hit a single homer off a pitch that was thrown 94 mph or greater, but he’s done so four times in the past three weeks alone, including last Thursday’s walk-off blast against Dellin Betances. Ramirez, whose batting line rests at a magnificent .294/.364/.517 (28 homers), discussed the various changes he’s made to his approach at the plate, specifically a lowered hand position that shortens his swing and increases the power. Manager John Farrell raved about Ramirez to reporters following last night’s two-homer performance (via MLB.com’s Ian Browne). “His comeback, his resurgence, it has been a major factor for where we stand today,” said Farrell.
Wonder if the Rays themselves are feeling pinched after giving up not only an AS in Will Myers for Souza, but a fair prospect in Jake Bauers that has raked so far as a 20YO kid at AA while the other guys Tampa got have done nothing.
Tampa was one of those teams under the old CBA that counted on offering arbitration to all of it’s middling relievers and so-so pieces, getting lots of draft picks that way to build it’s teams. Not drafting expensive guys, just the ones who would take “slot”, or below money and enough would work out to make them competitive. Think Tampa had like 11 of the 1st 100 picks in 2011, last “free” year under old rules as an example. Now? They cannot do that and are forced to use same lousy rules as the rest.
Another example of why CBA needs changing, something combo of old and new. This rotten mess has got to go, even small market teams are hurt.. Tampa example #1.
Tampa Bay got Jake Bauers
My mistake and TY for that. Should have looked closer than did.
Cheers
I feel like souza still has potential, but in remember Wil was traded from the royals along with Odorizzi to the Rays for shields and Davis, imagine the Royals with Myers and Odorizzi
Also does Souza not longer go by “Souza Jr.?”
It’s the same talent pool in the draft as with the old CBA. Just because a couple teams are behind the times on maximizing their draft, doesn’t mean the system is broke.
Interesting how, as PEDS seem less universal (although still present) and pitching ascendent, we would say “Ramirez, whose batting line rests at a magnificent .294/.364/.517 (28 homers0”
That’s a very nice line, but dial this back 15 years, and we wouldn’t used the word “magnificent” for a player with an OPS+ of 127, and a bWAR of 2.7.
No knock on Hanley–it’s just a perspective thing
Under this certain context it’s magnificent considering he batted like .249 last year
Add in the fact that we was worth -1.3bWAR last year and it’s now a 4 WAR jump in one year which is much more impressive
Yanks take it in the shorts…… Go Sox…..
A Giants and Sox fan. Can’t get much more bandwagon than that.
Yea, rah, rah. Yanks trade 3 best players, give up on year, have multiple injuries and field their Scranton team vs Sox to be swept.. If they didn’t sweep it would have been a shock. BFD
While I loathe the Yankees, their FO got it right. They shed some of their overpriced guys and traded valuable but expendable guys for quality prospects. It would bring me a great deal of happiness if they kept Chapman et al. and fell flat on their faces during the playoff run, but they were realistic about their chances.. I still doubt they secure WC #2 this season, but they have made it an interesting end to ’16 and re-stocked their farm system for ’17 and beyond. They still have a ton of question marks w. their starting pitching, but they have enough in the minors to go get a guy if needed (because everything and their brother knows the upcoming FA class is historically bad).