I was shocked. I received a text message from my friend proclaiming “Teixeira’s a yank omgggg.” It’s not exactly the way I would like to have found out, but that seventh-grade-esque text certainly did the job. I jumped up and ran to a computer, getting to ESPN.com’s home page to see the blurb about Teixeira’s agreement with the Yanks. Then I screamed.

This was not supposed to happen. But what makes it even better is that what WAS supposed to happen didn’t- Mark Teixeira will NOT be a member of the Boston Red Sox. Instead, switching hitting gem of a first baseman will be in the Bronx this coming April, just another housewarming gift for the new stadium across the street.

This move, as Joe Sheehan of Baseball Prospectus writes, is pretty much the safest the Yankees have made all off-season. Teixeira is arguably the second-best hitting first baseman behind Albert Pujols, and he has at least three or four years left in his prime. I don’t need to get into his stats, but I would like to say that Teixeira created 123 runs at the plate for his two teams, the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels, last year, which is essentially good for 12.3 team wins. Then factor in all the runs he saves as one of the league’s best defenders at first base, and you’ve got a complete package that nicely compliments Alex Rodriguez on the Yankees roster.

The thing I like most about all these moves is that the Yankees have not given up any prospects or young talent. They are rewarding their fans, and ensuring that the new ballpark will open with a bang. They are putting the best players they can on the field for the next 6-8 years, while allowing the young guys in the farm system to grow through the Yankees organization. As fans, we can now expect some fun, exciting, and hopefully successful baseball over the next few seasons, while also looking forward to the performances of home-grown talents like Brett Gardner, Austin Jackson and Humberto Sanchez in the coming years. 

Now that the Yankees have landed the most coveted free agent pitcher in baseball, the rest of the off-season seems almost irrelevent.

I have no qualms with the hefty deal the Yanks gave Sabathia. They had the money, and any team would have used as many funds to land a guy as durable and as skilled as Sabathia. And remember that he won the Cy Young two years ago, before totally decimating all comers in the second half of last year.

“He has three well above average ptichers. He is a handful. He is a monster,” A-Rod said of Sabathia. I’ll take the word of one of the greatest hitters of all time on that.

I was on ESPN message boards yesterday when the news broke, and all people could bring up was C.C.’s sub-par playoff resume. Maybe that’s true, but that doesn’t mean he can’t turn it around.

The Yanks also seem close to signing A.J. Burnett for something like 5 years/ $90 million. Now, I said I would prefer Derek Lowe for his sinker and reliability, and I still do. It looks like it may be too late, but even so, Burnett is a very skilled pitcher that will certainly benefit the Yanks AS LONG AS HE STAYS HEALTHY.

Also, Goodbye, Melky. The Yanks sent the low-production outfielder to Milwaukee for 35-year-old outfielder Mike Cameron. Of course, I won’t miss Melky too much, because, even as a good defender,  his value was low considering his .249/ 8/ 37 line last year. Cameron is a good centerfielder, posting a .997 fielding percentage in 119 games last year, along with 25 HR and 70 RBI. According to Baseball Prospectus, Melky was good enough for 1.7 Wins Above a Replacement Player last years, while Cameron posted a WARP of 5.1. So all in all, a shrewd move by Cashman.

Also, how about those Mets??!!? It’s excited to see the crosstown guys make some blockbuster moves. I saw K-Rod coming, but J.J. Putz totally threw me for a loop. Two top-line closers in one bullpen?! Goodbye, late-inning misery! Cangrats to the Mets and Minaya for almost eliminating their team’s biggest problem in about a day.