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New York Yankees Need Return to Form from Mark Teixeira in 2015

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By @chriswgamble

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Getty Images

The New York Yankees enter unfamiliar territory this offseason. They have missed the playoffs for the second straight year, something that has not happened since the Wild Card was implemented in 1995. That is 19 years ago for those keeping score at home. The Yankees offense is coming off of their worst season since Mike Blowers, Kevin Maas and Mel Hall were around. The questions are plenty but while everyone looks at the Alex Rodriguez situation the situation surrounding Mark Teixeira might be the biggest question in the lineup.

Teixeira will turn 35 next April and is signed through the 2016 season after signing an eight-year, $180 million deal prior to the 2009 season. For his first couple of years in pinstripes Teixeira was durable and a cornerstone in the lineup. Injuries have stolen much of that in recent years with the biggest issue being a wrist issue that required surgery in 2012 and cost him almost all of 2013.

This past season, Teixeira managed to hit just .216/.313/.398 with a respectable 22 home runs. However, he was banged up often and appeared in only 123 games leaving the Yankees with few viable options to replace him. In 2015, the Yankees can’t count on Teixeira playing 150 games at first but they have to count on his bat.

The Yankees should give plenty of rest to Teixeira who was vocal at the end of the season about how his body can’t handle the constant grind. That is fine and is somewhat expected given his recent injury history and his age. However, when he is healthy and playing they need Teixeira to at least resemble the player he was in 2011 when he hit .248/.341/.494 with 39 home runs, 26 doubles, 90 runs scored and 111 RBI. They need Teixeira to be a middle of the order bat.

There is good news. He is a year removed from the wrist surgery so he should start to regain some of his power and be more comfortable swinging the bat in 2015. Two recent case studies to give Yankees’ fans some hope are David Ortiz and Jose Bautista who showed a lot of improvement a year after their wrist surgeries.

Nobody is expecting Teixeira to hit 40 or more home runs but 30 shouldn’t be out of the question, especially since he hit 22 last year in 123 games. Is it possible? Absolutely. But Teixeira needs to be honest with himself and Joe Girardi and let his manager know when he needs a rest and Girardi must give Teixeira that rest if Teixeira doesn’t say anything. Last season, there were few options other than Mark at first base but that should change this year.

No matter who plays third, short or outfield, if the Yankees expect to improve their offense then Teixeira has to prove his .216/.313/.398 slash line was an aberration and not his production falling off of a cliff. While everyone is paying attention to Alex Rodriguez coming back the reality is the offense needs Teixeira to come back and resemble the player he has been for the Yankees.

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