He hasn’t been the most beloved Yankee. His number won’t be retired. Hell, he won’t even get a plaque in Monument Park. But he’s one of the most under-appreciated Yankees in recent memory, in my opinion. Off the field, he’s been a model citizen – everything you can ask for in a professional athlete. On the field, when healthy, he’s been a force at first base.
If Teixeira can duplicate last season’s success, or even pass it, you can make a case that his contract has been worth every penny. Think about it. He’s a switch-hitting, middle-of-the-order, gold-glove-caliber first baseman.