Yankees Should Release Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez

The Yankees made a bold statement with the moves they made at the trade deadline. Now, they need to finish it by releasing Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez.

There is no doubt the Yankees made a bold statement to their fans and all of baseball with the moves they made prior to the trade deadline on Monday. But, it’s like they’ve written almost an entire book, saved for the last chapter.

That final chapter must be written before Yankee fans can finally say, “There’s a dawn that is approaching, and I like it a lot.” We’ll have to wait a week or so for the people who do these things to see a list of the top-rated farm systems in the league. We can be sure that the Yankees have zoomed to, at or near the top.

Similar to all professional sports, the business of baseball can often be cold, brutal, and unforgiving. For all players, there comes a moment when the things you used to do seem to have evaporated with the passage of time. But, like Teixeira and Rodriguez today, the pride and the confidence that brought you to these heights remains, but the body and the results are not there anymore.

The Yankees need to write the final chapter in the book they began writing last weekend. Both A-Rod and Tex need to be history

For some players like Derek Jeter, the decision to retire is personal, and it’s made under no duress. For others like Jorge Posada, they beef and argue with reality before being nudged out only to write a book later expressing their bitterness. Still others like Tino Martinez fade gently into the night and then resurface later in a new career as a broadcaster.

Both Teixeira and Rodriguez should be measuring themselves against that brief history and possibly giving the Yankees a break by announcing their retirement. Regrettably, that is not likely to happen, but you seriously have to wonder why.

It certainly not about money. They have enough of that. According to Spotrac.com, Teixeira is approaching a quarter of a billion dollars in earnings and Rodriguez almost a half a billion. So, what’s another $20-25 million?

These guys are the “hanger on” type of players who don’t know when the door is about to hit them in the butt. They are also the kind that management hates most in having to deal with in this stage of their careers. Because yes, they were vital ingredients in the last championship won in 2009, but the old saying rings true, “What have you done for me lately?”

Therefore, difficult as it might be, the Yankees need to write the final chapter of what is likely to become a best-selling book. The final purge of yesterday and the beginning of tomorrow. Rodriguez and Teixeira have been in baseball for 15-plus years. They understand the business side of the game.

You can tell them, “Look, you’ve seen the direction we’re taking in the last week or so. We appreciate all you’ve done, especially your contributions in 2009. But, it’s time for all of us to move on. Tex, you need to go home to rest your body and heal up so you can enjoy a life with your family for many years to come. A-Rod, maybe you can catch on with another AL team to reach that elusive 700-home run goal. Beyond that, we all know you have a job waiting for you at YES.”

“So that is why we’re putting both of you on waivers tomorrow. If anyone claims you, so be it. We won’t stand in your way. If not, we intend to release you.”

When accomplished, the Yankees can then send a reaffirmation to their fans and remaining team members by bringing up (at least) Aaron Judge, who has been pounding the ball at Triple-A now for two years, and Gary Sanchez, who needs refinement. What better place to get it than under the tutelage of Brian McCann?

Manager Joe Girardi usually spins a move like this by saying, “They need to play every day and get at bats. They can’t come up here and sit two or three times a week.” But as I said, that’s pure spin because Judge can be made the everyday right fielder to replace Beltran. Sanchez can play every day if you DH McCann and replace Sanchez with him in late innings if needed for defensive purposes.

Plus, you have the benefit of getting more than the “cup of coffee” in the big leagues if you wait until September when rosters (inexplicably) expand. Not to be underestimated is getting used to the big league way of life with the travel and getting accustomed to the ever-incessant media.

So, we’ll see. Essentially, it’s the Yankees move as neither player appears to be looking directly in the mirror these days. But surely, these moves can solidify who the Yankees really are and want to be in 2017. Ah, 2017, I like the sound of that.

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