Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira is optimistic that he can return to the field in a matter of weeks, but other ideas have crossed the 36-year-old’s mind since.
While appearing on WFAN’s Boomer and Carton show Thursday morning, Teixeira was asked about his future, and the possibility of retirement due to his latest right knee injury that resulted in torn cartilage one week ago.
“Yeah, it’s in the back of my mind,” Teixeira said on-air via NJ.com. “Absolutely. Even last year when I broke my leg on a fluke foul ball. I’m having a great season and we’re in first place and I break my leg. I’m like, ‘Man, is this ever going to stop?’ You think about how much longer do I want to do this. But you get through it.”
Prior to spring training in late February, Teixeira told the press that he would love to play five more seasons, preferably in the Bronx, but with only three home runs and a .180 average in 48 games, Teixeira’s numbers have only added insult to injury during his contract year.
Since the start of 2012, Teixeira hasn’t played more than 123 games in a season, and with his latest setback, a shortened campaign could end his tenure in New York.
“You have those frustrating times. You joke around when you’re on the DL and think it’s rock bottom watching your team on TV,” Teixeira said. “But you get through and when you get back and hit a couple home runs, you think this is fun again. Hopefully, I’ll get through it this season and perform and help the team. Then we’ll sit down and discuss it as a family as far as what I want to do.”
While the Yankees deal with its own lack of resources at the first base position, Teixeira will be due $23 million by the end of the year, and eligible for free agency this winter.
You can listen to the entire interview with Teixeira here.
