YankeesGround.com | New York Yankees News, yankees Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div>NEW YORK ? Scott Boras wanted last bids on Mark Teixeira by 1 p.m., Dec. 23, so Brian Cashman made his best offer ? and crossed his fingers. </div>"I?d say up until 11 o?clock that morning, all indications were ? especially from Scott ? that he was going to be a Red Sox," Cashman said. By noon, the somewhat stunned Yankees general manager phoned co-chairman Hal Steinbrenner. "I think we?re the lead dog," Cashman told his boss. The Sox were sunk, the Angels were out and the Orioles and Nationals ? despite being close to Teixeira?s family home in Maryland ? weren?t tempting enough choices. "In the end, my goals as a ballplayer, wanting to be a world champion, and a multiple world champion [put] the Yankees so far above everyone else," said Teixeira, who was formally introduced as the club?s newest first baseman Tuesday afternoon inside Yankee Stadium. With his eight-year, $180 million contract finalized, Teixeira pulled a No. 25 pinstriped jersey over his navy blue suit, and said he had decided by mid-December the Yankees were his No. 1 choice ? thanks to an assist from his wife, Leigh, over dinner Dec. 12. "I could?ve played in any of those [other] places," Teixeira said. "But once my wife told me that she wanted me to be in New York, and wanted me to be a Yankee, it was pretty much a done deal." The Yankees might not be finished dealing, either. With Teixeira, a powerful switch-hitter and Gold Glove winner on board, the Yankees are willing to trade versatile Nick Swisher or Xavier Nady. Swisher ? who was acquired in a November trade with the White Sox to play first base ? is the man without a position. Johnny Damon is in left field, Nady is in right, and Cashman said he believes Melky Cabrera could emerge as the center fielder, after a competition with Brett Gardner. "We believe he?s better than [his ?08 season]," Cashman said. "But he has to prove that." Another possibility is that the Yanks could deal Swisher or Nady for minor-leaguers, and ship prospects, with Cabrera, for a proven center fielder such as Kansas City?s David DeJesus. Plus, the Yankees have to fill out their starting rotation ? and the door is still open to Andy Pettitte, though he won?t accept the club?s $10.5 million, one-year offer. "I wouldn?t say there?s a timeline or a deadline," Cashman said, though, "I think things are more complicated right now." Cashman spoke by phone with Pettitte?s agents Monday, and Steinbrenner said "there?s still a dialogue going on," although "they were not happy with our offer [and] we were not happy with what they wanted. "Anything?s possible. All options," Steinbrenner said. "We?re going to continue to look at things." For now, Phil Hughes, Alfredo Aceves, Ian Kennedy and Phil Coke are the main pool of candidates. "The fifth starter is going to come, at this point, from one of those kids," Cashman said of a competition that also includes veteran right-hander Jason Johnson, signed to a minor league deal. But if the Yankees were to engage other free agent pitchers, "Let?s just say that we are going to come in lower," said Cashman, after investing $423.5 million this winter in CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Teixeira. Teixeira admitted the contract was "very important," and Boras did not respond to an original Yankee offer that was subsequently pulled by Cashman. But Cashman became smitten with Teixeira in a lengthy face-to-face chat last month. Cashman?s focus was solely on starting pitching, though, "I came out of our meeting without a doubt, [with] a deviation from our plan." In six years, Teixeira has averaged 36 homers, 121 RBI and a .290 average per season, but hadn?t played in his first postseason until this past October, with the Angels. "He definitely has goals he intends to reach, and they?re all team goals," Cashman said, and Teixeira intends to take his cue from his idol, former Yankees captain Don Mattingly. "I?ve always thought that a team has a few leaders that they look up to," Teixeira said. "And I?ve always wanted to be that guy." Manager Joe Girardi said he wasn?t sure if Teixeira would bat third or fourth, behind Alex Rodriguez. The manager wants to get his coaches? opinions first. BRIEFS: Teixeira said he would not participate in the World Baseball Classic. He played on Team USA in 2006, with A-Rod and Derek Jeter. ? To make room on the 40-man roster, Shelley Duncan was designated for assignment.

NEW YORK ? Scott Boras wanted last bids on Mark Teixeira by 1 p.m., Dec. 23, so Brian Cashman made his best offer ? and crossed his fingers.

"I?d say up until 11 o?clock that morning, all indications were ? especially from Scott ? that he was going to be a Red Sox," Cashman said. By noon, the somewhat stunned Yankees general manager phoned co-chairman Hal Steinbrenner.

"I think we?re the lead dog," Cashman told his boss.

The Sox were sunk, the Angels were out and the Orioles and Nationals ? despite being close to Teixeira?s family home in Maryland ? weren?t tempting enough choices.

"In the end, my goals as a ballplayer, wanting to be a world champion, and a multiple world champion [put] the Yankees so far above everyone else," said Teixeira, who was formally introduced as the club?s newest first baseman Tuesday afternoon inside Yankee Stadium.

With his eight-year, $180 million contract finalized, Teixeira pulled a No. 25 pinstriped jersey over his navy blue suit, and said he had decided by mid-December the Yankees were his No. 1 choice ? thanks to an assist from his wife, Leigh, over dinner Dec. 12.

"I could?ve played in any of those [other] places," Teixeira said. "But once my wife told me that she wanted me to be in New York, and wanted me to be a Yankee, it was pretty much a done deal."

The Yankees might not be finished dealing, either.

With Teixeira, a powerful switch-hitter and Gold Glove winner on board, the Yankees are willing to trade versatile Nick Swisher or Xavier Nady. Swisher ? who was acquired in a November trade with the White Sox to play first base ? is the man without a position.

Johnny Damon is in left field, Nady is in right, and Cashman said he believes Melky Cabrera could emerge as the center fielder, after a competition with Brett Gardner.

"We believe he?s better than [his ?08 season]," Cashman said. "But he has to prove that."

Another possibility is that the Yanks could deal Swisher or Nady for minor-leaguers, and ship prospects, with Cabrera, for a proven center fielder such as Kansas City?s David DeJesus.

Plus, the Yankees have to fill out their starting rotation ? and the door is still open to Andy Pettitte, though he won?t accept the club?s $10.5 million, one-year offer.

"I wouldn?t say there?s a timeline or a deadline," Cashman said, though, "I think things are more complicated right now."

Cashman spoke by phone with Pettitte?s agents Monday, and Steinbrenner said "there?s still a dialogue going on," although "they were not happy with our offer [and] we were not happy with what they wanted.

"Anything?s possible. All options," Steinbrenner said. "We?re going to continue to look at things."

For now, Phil Hughes, Alfredo Aceves, Ian Kennedy and Phil Coke are the main pool of candidates. "The fifth starter is going to come, at this point, from one of those kids," Cashman said of a competition that also includes veteran right-hander Jason Johnson, signed to a minor league deal.

But if the Yankees were to engage other free agent pitchers, "Let?s just say that we are going to come in lower," said Cashman, after investing $423.5 million this winter in CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Teixeira.

Teixeira admitted the contract was "very important," and Boras did not respond to an original Yankee offer that was subsequently pulled by Cashman.

But Cashman became smitten with Teixeira in a lengthy face-to-face chat last month. Cashman?s focus was solely on starting pitching, though, "I came out of our meeting without a doubt, [with] a deviation from our plan."

In six years, Teixeira has averaged 36 homers, 121 RBI and a .290 average per season, but hadn?t played in his first postseason until this past October, with the Angels.

"He definitely has goals he intends to reach, and they?re all team goals," Cashman said, and Teixeira intends to take his cue from his idol, former Yankees captain Don Mattingly.

"I?ve always thought that a team has a few leaders that they look up to," Teixeira said. "And I?ve always wanted to be that guy."

Manager Joe Girardi said he wasn?t sure if Teixeira would bat third or fourth, behind Alex Rodriguez. The manager wants to get his coaches? opinions first.

BRIEFS: Teixeira said he would not participate in the World Baseball Classic. He played on Team USA in 2006, with A-Rod and Derek Jeter. ? To make room on the 40-man roster, Shelley Duncan was designated for assignment.