NEW YORK – He could slug five home runs or bat .050 or anything in between. It doesn’t matter. Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira(notes) already is the biggest impact player of this postseason.
How so? No other player has affected the fortunes of five different franchises – the Rangers, Braves, Angels, Yankees and the team that thought they had him, the Red Sox – in the span of less than three seasons.
Here’s the Teixeira scorecard on the eve of the ALCS, as the Yankees prepare to play the Angels, who had planned on being here with Teixeira on their side a year ago.
• Texas Rangers: They had him first, drafting him on the first round in 2001. After just one season of pro ball, he was in the big leagues. He won his first Silver Slugger a year later, was an All-Star by his third season, and a Gold Glover by his fourth. But the Rangers, deciding that they would not be able to keep him beyond free agency, traded Teixeira when his value was highest, at the July 31 deadline in 2007, the year before he entered free agency. They sent him to Atlanta for five prospects, including four who already have made it to the big leagues and two virtually certain to become stars – shortstop Elvis Andrus(notes) and fireballing pitcher Neftali Feliz(notes). Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia(notes) and pitcher Matt Harrison(notes) also figured in the Rangers’ improbable playoff bid this season. Losing Tex paid huge dividends for the Rangers.
On the Tex meter: Thumbs up.
• Atlanta Braves: They thought Teixeira would put them over the top in a tight NL East race with the Phillies and Mets. Teixeira did his part, going deep in each of his first three games with Atlanta, knocking in 56 runs and hitting 17 home runs in 54 games. But the Braves, in third place when they got him, finished in third place with him. The next season, the Braves already were out of contention when they decided that Teixeira was certain to test free agency and peddled him at the trading deadline to the Angels for another first baseman, Casey Kotchman(notes). Kotchman eventually was sent to Boston for yet another first baseman, Adam LaRoche(notes), who hit .325 with 12 home runs in 57 games with the Braves but is a free agent. So all the Braves might have left to show for all those terrific kids they sent to Texas is … nothing.
Tex meter: Thumbs down.
• Los Angeles Angels: They were running away with the AL West when they acquired Tex at last year’s trading deadline, so they expected he would be the big bat that could tip the scales against the Red Sox in the ALDS. Teixeira hit .467 against Boston and also walked four times, but had no home runs and one RBI. Still, the Angels thought Teixeira was a perfect fit and made a strong offer after the season to the free agent. Owner Arte Moreno met with Teixeira’s agent, Scott Boras, at the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas and made a take-it-or-leave-it offer. Moreno was offended when it became clear the player wanted more, and pulled his offer. With some of the money saved on Teixeira, Angels GM Tony Reagins signed a new closer, Brian Fuentes(notes), and the steal of the free-agent class, outfielder Bobby Abreu(notes). Teixeira’s departure also opened a position for Kendry Morales(notes), the Cuban defector who made the most of his chance, posting a slugging percentage of .569 to Teixeira’s .565.
Tex meter: Thumbs up.
• Boston Red Sox: Under a previous regime, they drafted Teixeira in high school only to put him off with their negotiating tactics. But he was their top offseason priority last winter. Team owner John W. Henry, CEO Larry Lucchino and GM Theo Epstein flew to Teixeira’s Texas home to try to close the deal. It didn’t happen, and Henry popped off a bit, but Epstein kept the talks going and on the day of decision, the Red Sox were confident they had their man. They were infuriated when Teixeira signed instead with the Yankees. Teixeira, in Boston’s view, was the perfect piece to transition from the David Ortiz(notes)-Manny Ramirez glory years. Instead, they are left with an aging Ortiz and hobbled Mike Lowell(notes), and while they made a trading-deadline deal for Victor Martinez(notes), he can’t compare to Teixeira.
Tex meter: Thumbs down.
• New York Yankees: Teixeira has been everything the Yankees could have hoped to buy for $180 million: a productive hitter, seamless clubhouse fit, terrific defender, and not yet 30 years old. He already has had a major October moment, hitting a walkoff home run to win Game 2 of the ALDS against the Twins. Still, for the money invested, Yankees fans will not be satisfied with anything less than a World Series ring.
Tex meter: A qualified thumbs up.
