YankeesGround.com | New York Yankees News, yankees Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div> --1B Mark Teixeira will give the Yankees the perfect complement to Alex Rodriguez if the reported deal goes through. The Yankees desperately needed a No. 3 hitter and found a solid one in Teixeira, who reportedly emulated Yankees icon Don Mattingly growing up. Teixeira has many of Mattingly's qualities -- a strong hitter for average with pop to go with a Gold Glove at first base. With the Yankees' offense struggling last season and unsure of what to expect from aging veterans Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui, who will be returning from injuries, Teixeira gives the lineup a much needed jolt and could make everyone else better as they slip to a more natural spot in the order.</div>--LHP Andy Pettitte, who resisted taking a $6 million pay cut to return to the Yankees, might not even have that option, according to reports, and that scenario would not cause the type of backlash it once might have. Pettitte had been offered $10 million for '09, but with the reported addition of Teixeira, the Yankees might opt to not spend any more money this winter. If they choose to pull their offer from fan favorite Pettitte, the club could give Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy or Alfredo Aceves a shot at the No. 5 spot. A year or two ago, such a decision might have created some bad public relations for the Yankees. But with Pettitte struggling through the second half last year and getting tangled up in the Mitchell Report and Roger Clemens congressional circus, the fans could be more willing to move on. --1B/OF Nick Swisher seemingly was lugged in as the Yankees' first baseman when he was acquired from the White Sox earlier this offseason, but his status has dropped suddenly. With the reported addition of 1B Mark Teixeira, Swisher obviously moves to the outfield but probably also shifts to the bench and maybe even another team. The Yankees don't envision him as a center fielder and with a glut of corner outfielders will trade one. Of course, it would be fair to imagine they'd prefer to trade another one if possible since they just acquired Swisher, but there are limitations. LF Johnny Damon gives them a leadoff hitter. RF Xavier Nady gives them pop and average. DH Hideki Matsui would be the move that makes more sense, but he's coming off an injury and might be harder to move. --CF Brett Gardner had to breathe a sigh of relief after watching the Yankees' recent flurry of activity. The reported acquisition of 1B Mark Teixeira likely ends the club's major offseason spending spree and means Gardner will get a chance to compete for the center field job with Melky Cabrera. Gardner already leaped ahead of Cabrera last season when the Yankees' former starter was demoted to Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Pa.). Earlier this winter, veteran CF Mike Cameron was the rumored replacement in a trade for Cabrera, but the deal fell through. With the offensive input of Teixeira, the Yankees can afford to go for defense and a lighter bat in center, which Gardner can give them along with an element of speed they have been missing. --LF Manny Ramirez no longer figures to be an option for the Yankees, though the Yankees already slid under the radar to snag 1B Mark Teixeira. While the Yankees have again shown they're willing to flex their monetary muscle, it seems highly unlikely they would withstand the headache of Ramirez after making a smarter deal by signing Teixeira, who gives them a strong bat in the long term minus the disruptions Ramirez has been known to cause in the clubhouse. --C Kevin Cash was signed to a minor league deal as the Yankees took another player from the Red Sox, though this one won't have quite the fanfare or impact of 1B Mark Teixeira. Cash gives the Yankees an insurance policy behind the plate to help backup Jose Molina in case Jorge Posada doesn't recover as well as the club hopes from shoulder surgery. BY THE NUMBERS: 423 -- Number of dollars, in millions, the Yankees spent on their top three free agent purchases this offseason. QUOTE TO NOTE: "Man, that's crazy. Those damn Yankees! They don't play around. When they're trying to win, they're trying to win. It's crazy. They just paid $27 million in luxury tax. That's like 27 dollars to them. They don't even care." -- Angels center fielder Torii Hunter to the Los Angeles Times on the Yankees' reported acquisition of Mark Teixeira.

--1B Mark Teixeira will give the Yankees the perfect complement to Alex Rodriguez if the reported deal goes through. The Yankees desperately needed a No. 3 hitter and found a solid one in Teixeira, who reportedly emulated Yankees icon Don Mattingly growing up. Teixeira has many of Mattingly's qualities -- a strong hitter for average with pop to go with a Gold Glove at first base. With the Yankees' offense struggling last season and unsure of what to expect from aging veterans Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui, who will be returning from injuries, Teixeira gives the lineup a much needed jolt and could make everyone else better as they slip to a more natural spot in the order.

--LHP Andy Pettitte, who resisted taking a $6 million pay cut to return to the Yankees, might not even have that option, according to reports, and that scenario would not cause the type of backlash it once might have. Pettitte had been offered $10 million for '09, but with the reported addition of Teixeira, the Yankees might opt to not spend any more money this winter. If they choose to pull their offer from fan favorite Pettitte, the club could give Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy or Alfredo Aceves a shot at the No. 5 spot. A year or two ago, such a decision might have created some bad public relations for the Yankees. But with Pettitte struggling through the second half last year and getting tangled up in the Mitchell Report and Roger Clemens congressional circus, the fans could be more willing to move on.

--1B/OF Nick Swisher seemingly was lugged in as the Yankees' first baseman when he was acquired from the White Sox earlier this offseason, but his status has dropped suddenly. With the reported addition of 1B Mark Teixeira, Swisher obviously moves to the outfield but probably also shifts to the bench and maybe even another team. The Yankees don't envision him as a center fielder and with a glut of corner outfielders will trade one. Of course, it would be fair to imagine they'd prefer to trade another one if possible since they just acquired Swisher, but there are limitations. LF Johnny Damon gives them a leadoff hitter. RF Xavier Nady gives them pop and average. DH Hideki Matsui would be the move that makes more sense, but he's coming off an injury and might be harder to move.

--CF Brett Gardner had to breathe a sigh of relief after watching the Yankees' recent flurry of activity. The reported acquisition of 1B Mark Teixeira likely ends the club's major offseason spending spree and means Gardner will get a chance to compete for the center field job with Melky Cabrera. Gardner already leaped ahead of Cabrera last season when the Yankees' former starter was demoted to Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Pa.). Earlier this winter, veteran CF Mike Cameron was the rumored replacement in a trade for Cabrera, but the deal fell through. With the offensive input of Teixeira, the Yankees can afford to go for defense and a lighter bat in center, which Gardner can give them along with an element of speed they have been missing.

--LF Manny Ramirez no longer figures to be an option for the Yankees, though the Yankees already slid under the radar to snag 1B Mark Teixeira. While the Yankees have again shown they're willing to flex their monetary muscle, it seems highly unlikely they would withstand the headache of Ramirez after making a smarter deal by signing Teixeira, who gives them a strong bat in the long term minus the disruptions Ramirez has been known to cause in the clubhouse.

--C Kevin Cash was signed to a minor league deal as the Yankees took another player from the Red Sox, though this one won't have quite the fanfare or impact of 1B Mark Teixeira. Cash gives the Yankees an insurance policy behind the plate to help backup Jose Molina in case Jorge Posada doesn't recover as well as the club hopes from shoulder surgery.

BY THE NUMBERS: 423 -- Number of dollars, in millions, the Yankees spent on their top three free agent purchases this offseason.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Man, that's crazy. Those damn Yankees! They don't play around. When they're trying to win, they're trying to win. It's crazy. They just paid $27 million in luxury tax. That's like 27 dollars to them. They don't even care." -- Angels center fielder Torii Hunter to the Los Angeles Times on the Yankees' reported acquisition of Mark Teixeira.